Malignant fibrous histiocytoma occurring at the site of a previous total hip replacement

Abstract

Approximately 35000 hip replacements are performed in Britain annually and about 350000 worldwide. In the recent literature there have been reports of malignancy at or close to the site of a total hip replacement. BagoGranell et al (1984) and Swann (1984) describe a malignant fibrous histiocytoma occurring near the site of a previous hip arthroplasty whilst Penman and Ring (1984) described a high-grade osteosarcoma. The reports of these malignancies are few compared with the number of hip replacements performed and the association may be simply coincidence but the possibility of a definite relationship between these tumours and an arthroplasty should be considered.