Abstract
A case of malignant histiocytoma associated with brain metastasis was reported. The patient was a 33-year-old male who was admitted with complaints of headache, visual field defect, and left motor paresis. Computed tomography scan showed a mass lesion with ring enhancement in the right occipital lobe. Cerebral angiography disclosed a tumor stain which was fed by branches of the posterior cerebral artery. Craniotomy was performed and a tumor 5 cm in diameter was totally removed. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of epithelial-like cells and foam cells. It was diagnosed as malignant histiocytoma, a variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, by immunohistological study, phagocytosis test, and electron microscopic study. The patient developed metastases to the cervical lymph nodes four months later and died of pulmonary insufficiency seven months after the operation. Autopsy findings included multiple metastases to the heart, liver, adrenals, lumbar spine, peritoneum and lymph nodes. The primary tumor focus proved to be in the lung. The clinical features of this tumor are discussed.
