HEPATIC EPITHELIOID HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA WITH POLYCYTHEMIA - REPORT OF A CASE WITH LYMPH-NODE METASTASES AS THE 1ST MANIFESTATION

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare endothelial tumor of low-gr ade malignancy which can arise in the soft tissues, bones, lungs, or l iver. The case of a 52-year-old male in whom cervical lymph node metas tases occurred as the first manifestation of a hepatic hemangioendothe lioma is reported. After one year of watchful waiting, the patient sud denly developed polycythemia of unclear pathogenesis and fatal liver f ailure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of polycythemia during the course of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Th e main characteristics of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma are reported and possible links between this tumor and polycythemia are d iscussed.