12 April 2007 – Case of the Week #80

 

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Case of the Week #80

 

Clinical History

 

A 28 year old man had a red nodule on the left thigh for 6 months that was slowly growing.  The clinical suspicion was Kaposi’s sarcoma.

 

Micro images: image #1#2#3

 

What is your diagnosis?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diagnosis:

 

Microvenular hemangioma

 

Discussion

 

Microvenular hemangioma was first described by Hunt in 1991 (J Cutan Pathol 1991;18:235).  It is rare, with less than 50 cases reported.  It presents as a slow growing, solitary, asymptomatic, purple-red papule or plaque in young to middle-aged adults, often on the trunk or limbs.  The histology shows a dermal proliferation of small, irregular branching capillaries and venules with inconspicuous lumina.  Endothelial cells may be plump, but no atypia is present.  The stroma is collagenous.  No spindle cells are present.

 

The endothelial cells are immunoreactive for CD34 and Factor VIII related antigen.  Smooth muscle actin highlights pericytes surrounding the endothelial cells.

 

The main differential diagnosis is patch stage Kaposi's sarcoma, which also has irregular vascular spaces.  However, they are anastomosing and not collapsed, and are accompanied by atypical endothelial cells, eosinophilic hyaline globules, plasma cells and fascicles of spindle cells.  There may be irregular dissection of collagen bundles by vessels.  The spindle cells are HHV8 positive (Am J Clin Pathol 2004;121:335), and the patients are HIV positive, which is usually helpful.  However, there was a recent report of HHV8 positive microvenular hemangioma (image-see fig c, d) in an unusual case of POEMS syndrome (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003;127:1034)

 

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma also has slit-like lumina, although they are due to nodules and sheets of compact spindle cells.  It affects the skin or retroperitoneum of infants and children, and may be associated with severe coagulopathy.

 

Microvenular hemangioma is a benign lesion.  To date, excision appears to be curative.

 

Case reports: 40 year old woman (Dermatology 2003;206:161), 23 year old Japanese woman (Pathol Int 1998;48:237)

 

 

Nat Pernick, M.D., President
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