Histiocytoid hemangioma of bone: a benign lesion which may mimic angiosarcoma. Report of a case and review of literature

Abstract

Histiocytoid hemangioma is a related family of endothelial cell neoplasms, which was described by Rosai et al. [14] in 1979 and which encompasses a group of osseous, vascular and cutaneous neoplasms. These neoplasms bear a close resemblance to the angiosarcoma/hemangioendothelioma family of malignant neoplasms. A case of histiocytoid hemangioma is reported that presented as a multicentric osseous lesion and was initially diagnosed as angiosarcoma. The patient has had a remarkably benign course and at a later date developed skin and bone lesions diagnosed as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia identical to the initial lesion. This represents the first reported case of identical osseous and cutaneous lesions of the histiocytoid hemangioma group in the same patient and lends credence to Rosai's concept. A review of the literature concerning angiosarcoma/hemangioendothelioma of the bone is presented with the conclusion that some lesions considered to represent multicentric angiosarcoma may represent the more benign histiocytoid hemangioma.