Hemangiopericytoma in the small intestine: a case report

Abstract

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor, mostly composed of pericytes of ramified appearance that are normally found all along the venules and capillaries. An 18-year-old female was admitted on March 17, 1997 to the Department of Infectious Diseases for fever, chills and failure to thrive. Physical examination revealed a palpable tumorous mass in the iliac region on the right. The patient was transferred to the Department of Surgery. Vaginal examination and echotomography of the abdomen and pelvis minor were performed and revealed the presence of an irregular, inhomogeneous tumorous formation of 8 cm in diameter in the pelvis minor, differentially diagnostic right ovary, i.e. acute adnexitis or perityphlitic tumor. After that, small intestine resection, tumor excision in toto, and appendectomy were performed on April 16, 1997. Pathohistological diagnosis was hemangiopericytoma and chronic appendicitis. The biological behavior of this tumor is difficult to predict on the basis of clinical and morphological parameters. In our patient, local tumor excision was not followed by adjuvant therapy. After ten years, the patient is well, healthy and a mother of two healthy children.

Keywords: Hemangiopericytoma; Small intestine.

Fig. 1

Abdomen and pelvis minor echotomography showing a well-demarcated tumorous formation.

Fig. 2

Hemangiopericytoma (Gomori staining).