Intravascular epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the inferior vena cava: case report of an unusual and unpredictable vascular tumor

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2009 Jul-Aug;18(4):243-6. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2008.03.004. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

Abstract

Vascular neoplasms are uncommon and pose a diagnostic and treatment challenge to the pathologist and surgeon, respectively. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare neoplasm of vascular origin with an unknown etiology. Its biologic behavior lies somewhere between that of a benign hemangioma and that of a malignant angiosarcoma; however, it is unpredictable at best. Intravascular epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas have been described more often in veins than arteries, and there are only about 30 reports in the English literature. We report here the case of an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the inferior vena cava, which presented with abdominal pain, ascites and pedal edema.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adult
  • Ascites / etiology
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Edema / etiology
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / complications
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / pathology*
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Neoplasms / complications
  • Vascular Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / surgery
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / pathology*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / surgery