Retiform haemangioendothelioma

Virchows Arch. 1996 Jul;428(4-5):301-4. doi: 10.1007/BF00196705.

Abstract

A case of retiform haemangioendothelioma (RH), a recently described rare cutaneous low-grade angiosarcoma, is presented. A 75-year-old female had a 3.5 cm cutaneous nodule in her right lower thigh with 10 year preoperative duration. Microscopically, the dermis and subcutis contained a diffuse and infiltrative neoplasm which was characterized by long arborizing blood vessels arranged in a retiform pattern lined by cuboidal and flattened cells, occasional hobnail appearance of endothelial cells, and a prominent small lymphocytic infiltrate. Small solid areas were also found. Neither significant cellular atypia nor mitotic activity was observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells reacted with endothelial markers (CD31, CD34, factor-VIII-related antigen) and bound Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1. There was no pericytic component within the tumour. The tumour was diploid by flow cytometry. The patient had a local recurrence 27 months after the excision. These findings support the view that RH is a low-grade angiosarcoma and indicate that RH must be distinguished from conventional angiosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / analysis
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Diploidy
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hemangioendothelioma / genetics
  • Hemangioendothelioma / immunology
  • Hemangioendothelioma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Plant Lectins*
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • von Willebrand Factor / analysis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Lectins
  • Plant Lectins
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Ulex europaeus lectins
  • von Willebrand Factor