Malignant vascular lesions of bone: radiologic and pathologic features

The malignant vascular tumors of bone represent an uncommon diverse group o f tumors with widely variable clinical and radiographic presentations. Alth ough the radiographic imaging features of the lytic osseous lesions typical ly seen with this group of tumors are relatively nonspecific, the propensit y to develop multifocal disease in an anatomic region is a feature that can be helpful in suggesting the diagnosis of a vascular tumor. The differenti al diagnosis varies according to the age of the patient and presence of sol itary or multifocal disease. The histologic features are variable and range from tumors with vasoformative features to those that mimic mesenchymal ne oplasm or metastatic carcinoma. Familiarity with the radiographic and patho logic spectrum of disease is essential for making an accurate diagnosis in this diverse group of neoplasms. This paper will provide a review of the no menclature for the malignant vascular tumors of bone and discuss the radiog raphic and pathologic differential diagnosis.