Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pancreas: benefit of the multidisciplinary approach.

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is an exceedingly rare tumour of the pancreas with a high recurrence rate and a poor prognosis. Only 11 cases have been reported in the past in the English literature. In this report, the authors present the case of a 45-year-old man who was first operated on for a primary MFH of the pancreas. Eleven months after the surgery, he was diagnosed with a tumoural recurrence presenting as hepatic and pulmonary metastasis. The patient underwent a multidisciplinary treatment of chemotherapy, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, and a right hepatectomy combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation. Under multidisciplinary treatment, the patient fully recovered. He remains disease-free 3 years after his first surgery and 25 months after the recurrence. We report a case of a primary MFH of the pancreas treated by using a multidisciplinary approach resulting in an above average survival rate. Although further cases and longer follow-up periods are necessary to conclude about the role of multidisciplinary treatment in the long- term prognosis of primary MFH of the pancreas, we believe that multidisciplinary treatment could improve the survival rates of other patients. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 22:765-768 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.