Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 29, Issue 8 382-386, Copyright © 1999 by Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
H Deguchi, B Sato, M Ohshima, A Seki, M Yamamoto, H Naito, N Nishida, C Yutani and S Kitamura
Primary cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma is extremely rare and its
pathophysiological characteristics remain largely unknown. We treated a
female patient with persistent fever and disseminated intravascular
coagulation. Since ultrasonic echocardiography revealed the presence of a
cardiac tumor and her serum interleukin-6 level was elevated, we speculated
she had a cardiac myxoma. Histological examination of the surgically
resected specimen, however, revealed that the tumor was malignant fibrous
histiocytoma. Although her disseminated intravascular coagulation and heart
failure were transiently improved after operation, local recurrence and
systemic metastasis occurred and she died 7 weeks after operation. Using
the autopsied specimen, we examined whether the malignant fibrous
histiocytoma constitutively synthesized interleukin-6. The interleukin-6
content in the tumor was high, consistent with interleukin-6 production by
the tumor. This was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. To our
knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating interleukin-6 production
by a cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A case of interleukin-6-producing malignant fibrous histiocytoma originating in the heart
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nissay Hospital, Nippon Life Saiseikai Foundation, Osaka, Japan. nhpdr97a@osk.3web.ne.jp
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