SPINDLE-CELL HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA - REPORT OF 3 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

BACKGROUND. Spindle cell hemangioendothelioma lesions are uncommon, af fect a wide age range in both sexes, and show a predilection for skin and subcutaneous tissue of the extremities. OBJECTIVES. To present thr ee cases of spindle cell hemangioendothelioma and review the literatur e. METHODS. Three cases of spindle cell hemangioendothelioma are prese nted. RESULTs. Two of our cases first presented very early in life and progressed by local recurrences over many years. None of our cases sh owed evidence of metastases, but the lesions exhibited local aggressiv e and invasive behavior. Histologically, the lesions consist of altern ating areas of dilated, thin walled cavernous vascular spaces and soli d areas composed predominantly of spindle cells and clusters of epithe lioid endothelial cells with intracytoplasmic vacuoles. That spindle c ell hemangioendothelioma is a non-neoplastic lesion and not a neoplasm of borderline malignancy is suggested by the following observations f rom our cases. the repeated presence of organized intravascular thromb i in all cases, the early clinical presentation in two cases, and the presence of some degree of vascular malformation at the periphery of l esions. CONCLUSION. Both clinicians and pathologists should be aware o f the existence of this lesion in order to diagnose and treat an affec ted patient correctly.