Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the distal femur after an arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A case report and a review of the literature

• Main Authors: Rexin Peter, Fuchs-Winkelmann Susanne, Schofer Markus D, Heyse Thomas J, Efe Turgay, Schmitt Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-06-01
• Series: BMC Cancer
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/10/264

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malignant degeneration in association with orthopaedic implants is a known but rare complication. To our knowledge, no case of osseous malignant fibrous histiocytoma after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is reported in the literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p><b>We report a </b>29-year-old male Turkish patient who presented with severe pain in the operated knee joint 40 months after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. X-ray and MR imaging showed a large destructive tumor <b>in </b>the medial femoral condyle. Biopsy determined a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, wide tumor resection and distal femur reconstruction with a silver-coated non-cemented tumor knee joint prosthesis was performed. Adjuvant chemotherapy was continued according to the EURAMOS 1 protocol.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Though secondary malignant degeneration after orthopaedic implants or prostheses is not very likely, the attending physician should take this into consideration, especially if symptoms worsen severely over a short period of time.</p>