Atypical Fibroxanthoma of Ethmoid Sinus

Atypical fibroxanthoma: new insights

“…However, these cases are now considered to be atypical fibrous histiocytomas, not AFX. Rare locations include medial canthus [6], eyelids [7], limbus [8], subungual region [9], lip mucosa [10] and ethmoid sinus [11][12][13].…”

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the ethmoid sinus

“…Local recurrence rates following apparently complete surgical excision are extremely high, and the reported incidence varies between 41 per cent and 73 per cent (Kempson and Kyriakos, 1972;Soule and Enriquez, 1972;Weiss and Enzinger, 1978;Kearney et al, 1980). The overall five-year survival is about 50 per cent Multiple synchronous MFHs, probably due to malignant transformation in multiple sites rather than metastatic foci, have been described (Weiss and Enzinger, 1977;Miller et al, 1980). Rice et al (1974) also reported a case of MFH involving the nasopharynx and nasal cavity, with local lymph node metastases and tumour nodules on the extensor surfaces of both arms.…”

“…Rice et al (1974) 3. Lesica et al (1975) nasopharyngeal lesion was so far removed from the initial primary tumour that it was considered most likely to be due to malignant transformation than to 'seedling' metastases or local recurrence. Primary malignant transformation arising in an area of field change may explain the well documented very high local recurrence rate following apparently complete surgical ablation.…”

Atypical Fibroxanthoma: A Review of the Literature

“…When AFX is on the extremities or trunk, it tends to be larger, have less defined borders, and may be more nodular in appearance and slower growing than when occurring on the head and neck 8,14,44 . AFX can also be located in unusual sites such as the ethmoid sinus, 3 the eyelid, 45 the cornea, 46 and the ocular surface 47 …”

“…In 1961, Helwig originally described the malignancy as a lowgrade dermal tumor of atypical spindle cells. 1 The literature has referred to AFX as ''benign'' on many occasions [2][3][4][5][6] because it typically has an excellent prognosis. [7][8][9] Today it is referred to as a tumor of intermediate malignant potential because of its occasional ability to become metastatic and even cause death.…”