INTRATHORACIC EXTRAPULMONARY HEMANGIOPERICYTOMA - LATE LOCAL RECURRENCE AFTER RADICAL EXTIRPATION OF A LARGE TUMOR

A 39-year-old woman was operated upon for an extremely large hemangiop ericytoma located in the right hemithorax. During intensive follow-up a local recurrence was observed 8 years after the radical extirpation of the well-encapsulated tumor, histologically assessed as generally b enign. This and other observations give reason to suspect that the wel l-recognised puzzling clinical behavior of this rare tumor is a result of a potential pathological capacity of the abnormally vascularised f atty connective tissue through which the tumor is connected to the bod y. This tissue, if not radically extirpable, must be completely destro yed in some way during or after the operation in order to prevent recu rrence.