Summary
A case of malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver mimicking veno-occlusive disease is reported. The histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of the present case indicate striking similarities to epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) of the soft parts described by Weiss and Enzinger. Tumour metastasis to the lung gave a picture closely resembling intravascular bronchiolo-alveolar tumour (IVBAT) of the lung. EHE of the liver is considered to be a unique type of hepatic endothelial neoplasm behaving as a low grade malignant tumour with a veno-occlusive process which has rarely been described, and had previously been classified as other diseases or neoplasms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpert LI (1976) Veno-occlusive disease of the liver associated with oral contraceptives: Case report and review of literature. Hum Pahtol 7:709–718
Bhagavan, BS Murthy MSN, Dorfman HD, Eggleston JC (1982) Intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour (IVBAT). A low-grade sclerosing epithelioid agniosarcoma of lung. Am J Surg Pathol 6:41–52
Corrin B, Manners B, Millard M, Weaver L (1979) Histogenesis of the so-called “intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour”. J Pathol 128; 163–167
Dail DH, Liebow AA (1975) Intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour. Am J Pathol 78:6a and 7a
Dail DH, Liebow AA, Gmelich JT, Friedman PJ, Miyai K, Myer W, Patterson SD, Hammar SP (1983) Intravascular, bronchiolar and alveolar tumour of the lung (IVBAT) An analysis of twenty cases of a peculiar sclerosing endothelial tumour. Cancer 51:452–464
Echevarria RA, Arean VM, Galindo L (1978) Hepatic tumours of long duration with eventual metastases. Two cases of leiomyosarcomatosis possibly arising from hamartomas of liver. Am J Clin Pathol 69:624–631
Ecker JA, McKittrick JE, Failing RM 1966) Thrombosis of the hepatic veins. “The Bud-dChiari syndrome” - a possible link between oral contraceptives and thrombosis formation. Am J Gastroenterol 45:429–443
Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (1983) Benign tumours and tumour like lesions of blood vesseles. In: Soft tissue tumours, Mosby Company, St. Louis, pp 379–421
Gledhill ANN, Kay JM (1984) Hepatic metastases in a case of intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour. J Clin Pathol 37:279–282
Ishak KG (1976) Mesenchymal tumours of the liver. In: Okuda K, Peters R (eds), Hepatocellular carcinoma, John Wiley, New York, pp 636–667
Jaffe EA, Hoyer LW, Nachman RL (1973) Synthesis of antihemophilic antigen by cultured human endothelial cells. J Clin Invest 52:2757–2764
Ludwig J, Grier MW, Hoffman HN, McGill DB (1975) Calcified malignant tumour of the liver Arch Pathol 99:162–166
Mitchell MC, Boitnott JK, Kaufman S, Cameron JL, Maddrey WC (1982) Budd-Chiari syndrome: Etiology, diagnosis and management. Medicine 61:199–218
Monroe PS, Riddell RH, Siegler M, Baker AL (1981) Hepatic Angiosarcoma. Possible relationship to long-term oral contraceptive ingestion. JAMA 246; 64–65
Mukai K, Rosai J, Burgdorf WH (1980) Localization of factor VIII-related antigen in vascular endothelial cells using an immunoperoxidase method. Am J Surg Pathol 4:273–276
Nime F, Pickren JW, Vana J, Aronoff BL, Baker HW, Murphy GP (1979) The histology of liver tumours in oral contraceptive users observed during a national survey by the American College of Surgeons Comission on Cancer Cancer 44:1481–1489
Rosai J, Sumner HW, Kostianovsky M, Perez-Mesa C (1976) Angiosarcoma of the skin. A clinicopathologic and fine structural study. Hum Pathol 7:83–109
Rosai J, Gold J, Landy R (1979) The histocytoid hemangiomas. A unifying concept embracing several previously described entities of skin, soft tissue, large vessels, bone and heart. Hum Pathol 10:707–730
Sehested M, Hou-Jensen K (1981) Factor VIII related antigen as an endothelial cell marker in benign and malignant diseases. Virchows Arch. (Pathol. Anat.) 391:217–225
Sternberger LA, Hardy PH, Cuculis JJ, Meyer HG (1970) The unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunohistochemistry. Preparation and properties of sulubule antigen and antibody complex. (Horseradish peroxidase-anti-horseradish oxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes. J Histochem Cytochem 18:315–333
Wagner RC (1980) Endothelial cell embryology and growth. Adv Microcirc 9:45–75
Waldo ED, Vuletin JC, Kaye GI (1977) The ultrastructure of vascular tumours: Additional observations and a review of the literature. Pathol Annu 12:279–308
Weiss SW, Enzinger FM (1982) Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. A vasular tumour often mistaken for a carcinoma. Cancer 50:970–981
Weldon-Linne CM, Victor TA, Christ ML, Fry WA (1981) Angiogenic nature of the ‘intravascular bronchiolo-alveolar tumour’ of the lung. An electron miscroscopic study. Arch Pathol Lab Med 105:174–179
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fukayama, M., Nihei, Z., Takizawa, T. et al. Malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver, spreading through the hepatic veins. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 404, 275–287 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694893
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694893