[Clinical heterogeneity and distinct outcomes in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma]

Abstract

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is an infrequent mesenchymal tumor of unknown etiology and variable clinical symptoms. It usually affects black, middle-aged women. The most frequent symptoms are right hypochondrium pain, abdominal discomfort and constitutional syndrome with progressive liver damage. Diagnosis is difficult and detailed pathological analysis is required. Controlled clinical studies are lacking and there are no factors that predict the clinical course or serve as a guide to the most effective treatment. We report 3 cases with distinct clinical course ranging from clinical stability to dissemination and death. Treatment differed in the three patients.