EPITHELIOID HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA OF THE LIVER MIMICKING BUDD-CHIARI-SYNDROME

A case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver in a 34-year-o ld man with clinical and radiologic findings suggestive of Budd-Chiari syndrome is reported. Despite clinical and radiologic findings, percu taneous liver biopsy was suspicious for epithelioid hemangioendothelio ma. The patient underwent liver transplantation 2 months later, and hi stologic examination confirmed this diagnosis. Unusual histopathologic features included extensive areas of capillary-thin vascular structur es with open lumina, lack of significant cytologic atypia in the major ity of neoplastic cells, and areas with Budd-Chiari-like features in t he hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor. The neoplastic cells were focally immunopositive for endothelial markers, such as factor VIII-r elated antigen and CD34 antigen. The unusual clinical presentation may have been due to tumor invasion and fibrous obliteration of terminal hepatic venules and sublobular veins. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma should be considered when evaluating patients with clinical features of Budd-Chiari syndrome or veno-occlusive disease.