Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma with lymph node metastases: report of 4 cases

Abstract

Context: Sclerosing hemangioma is an unusual pulmonary tumor. Previously, 4 patients with pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma and lymph node metastases have been described in the literature.

Objective: To report 4 additional cases of metastatic sclerosing hemangioma.

Design: Retrospective review of the authors' consultation files and review of histologic sections of pulmonary tumors and lymph node metastases.

Results: Four cases of a morphologically benign pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma with regional lymph node metastases (including hilar, peribronchial, and interlobar metastases) were identified. The patients (3 female, 1 male) had a mean age of 39 years (range, 10-56 years). The tumors ranged in size (greatest dimension) from 1.5 to 4.7 cm (mean, 3.1 cm). The pulmonary tumors were typical circumscribed sclerosing hemangiomas without mitotic activity, angiolymphatic invasion, or necrosis. One tumor had focal cytologic atypia. The metastases were identified in hilar lymph nodes that were removed at operation for the lung nodule. One patient received adjuvant chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma. All of the patients are alive. No recurrences or residual disease has been detected at a mean follow-up of 4.7 years (range, 2.3-10 years).

Conclusions: On the basis of case data from the 4 patients described here and the 4 patients described previously, metastases to regional lymph nodes from pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma may occur but are rare and do not appear to affect prognosis.