Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma

Epidemiology

Clinical features

This tumour may arise in infants, children or adults. It may be associated with lymphangiomatosis and Kasabach-Merrit syndrome.

Histopathology

There is a nodular vascular proliferation resembling haemangioma or Kaposi's sarcoma, admixed with large epithelioid cells containing haemosiderin, hyaline droplets and vacuoles. Human Herpes virus 8 has not been identified.

Immunohistochemistry of the spindle cells:

Differential diagnosis

• capillary haemangioma

• angiosarcoma

• Kaposi's sarcoma

• spindle cell haemangioendothelioma

References

Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry edited by Professor D. J. Dabbs, pages 78

This page last revised 24.12.2001.