A case of interleukin-6-producing malignant fibrous histiocytoma originating in the heart

Abstract

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. © 1999 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research.