[Retiform hemangioendothelioma: a clinicopathologic analysis of 8 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To further elucidate the clinical and pathologic features of retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) and its clinical spectrum.

METHODS: Eight cases of RH were reviewed. The clinicopathologic profiles, immunophenotypes and outcome data were investigated.

RESULTS: All 8 cases occurred in females with a mean age at presentation of 40 years (range, 13-69 years). Five tumors arose in the skin of the head and neck region and lower extremities, two in the long bones and one in the spleen. Clinically, the patients presented with a slowly growing cutaneous plaque or subcutaneous nodule, pain of the upper arm, and dull pain and discomfort in the left hypochondrium respectively. Grossly, the tumor appeared as a non-encapsulated gray-yellowish to tan-brown mass with a mean diameter of 2.6 cm (range, 0.8-5.0 cm). On histology, it was composed of delicate branches of elongated vessels lined by a layer of hobnail or matchstick endothelium, exhibiting a retiform pattern with close resemblance of the normal rete testis. Cords or solid nests of epithelioid cells were noted adjacent to the well-formed vessels. In three cases, dilated vascular spaces with formation of intravascular papillary tufts were observed, features overlapping with Dabska tumor. There was usually marked lymphocytic infiltration in the stroma which was also hyalinized in some cases. One case had regional lymph node metastasis. By immunohistochemistry, all cases consistently expressed endothelial markers, including CD31 (8/8), human coagulation factor VIII (5/8), CD34 (5/7) and D2-40 (1/2). Two of six cases with follow-up information (18-67 months) developed local recurrences, but distant metastasis was not identified.

CONCLUSIONS: RH is a distinctive vascular tumor of adulthood characterized by retiform growth of vessels with striking hobnail endothelium. Although the tumor occurs predominantly in the skin, the long bones and the spleen can be occasionally affected. The presence of Dabska tumor-like areas in RH may suggest a morphologic continuum between these two entities, comprising the family of hobnail hemangioendothelioma. Familiarity with the characteristic features of this vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy will help in the differential diagnosis of vascular neoplasms with hobnail endothelium.