CELLULAR HEMANGIOMA AND ANGIOBLASTOMA OF THE SPINE, ORIGINALLY CLASSIFIED AS HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA - A CONFUSING DIAGNOSIS

Study Design. The authors report two cases of vascular tumors of the s pine, classified originally as benign and malignant hemangioendothelio ma, and after revision, as cellular hemangioma and angioblastomatosis, respectively. Objectives. Problems in interpretation of the confusing term hemangioendothelioma and treatment modalities for vascular tumor s of the spine are discussed. Summary of Background Data. Hemangioendo thelioma is a confusing term and is often used to cove bewilderment at the biological behavior of a vascular tumor. Its spectrum ranges, dep ending the references used, from benign to malignant and can mistakenl y include benign lesions like cellular hemangioma and angioblastoma (s olitary and multicentric). Methods. Of two patients with a cellular tu mor of the spine, the clinicopathologic data and modes of treatment ar e reviewed. The relevant literature is discussed. Results. In the firs t case, the diagnosis of benign cellular hemangioendothelioma was chan ged to cellular hemangioma. In the second case, the original diagnosis of malignant hemangioendothelioma with metastasis to liver and lungs was changed to angioblastomatosis, most probably benign. In both cases , a correct interpretation of the initial diagnosis or proper diagnosi s would have influenced the mode of treatment. Conclusion. Avoid the c onfusing term hemangioendothelioma. If a vascular lesion is benign, it should be classified as a variant of hemangioma. If malignant as angi osarcoma, use a separate category, in which lesions like angioblastoma and angioblastomatosis can be put until their nature has been clarifi ed.