Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: long-term results of surgical management

Treatment and Prognosis of Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: A SEER Database Analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare tumor that can affect multiple organs. Little is known about the pathophysiology, clinical course and management of this disease. The aim of this study is to determine survival rates and elucidate the role of various prognostic factors and therapeutic modalities as compared to surgery on patients with HEH.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis on patients diagnosed with HEH between 2004 and 2016 was performed utilizing the SEER database. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to determine overall and cancer-specific survival, and the log-rank test was used to compare between groups. To explore prognostic factors and treatment outcomes, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were developed.

RESULTS

A total of 353 patients with HEH (median age: 50.4 years) were identified. The most common surgery performed was liver resection (90.8%). One-year OS in the surgical group and non-surgical group was 86.6% and 61.0%, respectively, while 5-year OS was 75.2% and 37.4%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, surgery emerged as a favorable prognostic factor [HR (95%CI): 0.404 (0.215-0.758) p value = 0.005]. Age > 65 years [HR (95%CI): 2.548 (1.442-4.506) p value = 0.001] and tumor size > 10 cm [HR (95%CI): 2.401 (1.319-4.37) p value = 0.004] were shown to be poor survival prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

HEH is a rare disease that is poorly understood. Surgical intervention is associated with improved survival rates. Multicenter prospective collaborations are needed to improve our limited knowledge about this neoplasm and determine the optimal treatment strategy.

Hepatic Hemangioendothelioma: An update

Primary epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas of the liver (EHL) are rare tumors with a low incidence. The molecular background of EHL is still under investigation, with WWTR1-CAMPTA1 mutation may function as a tumor marker. Commonly, this tumor is misdiagnosed with angiosarcoma, cholangiocarcinomas, metastatic carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma (sclerosing variant). Characteristic features on imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography guide in diagnosis and staging. The "halo sign" and the "lollipop sign" on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are described in the literature. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for treating EHL with treatment options are broad including: chemotherapy, ablation, surgery and liver transplantation with inconsistent results.

Selection of treatment for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare angiogenic tumor with no recognized effective treatment. Treatment options used worldwide include liver transplantation (LT), liver resection (LR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), chemotherapy, and observation. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy of different treatment options used for HEHE at our center.

METHODS

The medical charts of 12 patients with HEHE (9 women and 3 men) who were diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, China, between January 2011 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The patients were diagnosed by postoperative histopathology or fine needle aspiration biopsy. Two patients with diffuse lesions received LT and were alive without recurrence at the last follow-up. Three patients received LR as the initial treatment, and all of them developed recurrence during the follow-up period. One patient received RFA and remained free of disease, while the remaining six patients opted for simple observation rather than treatment. One of the patients who received LR passed away because of tumor recurrence within 32 months after surgery; the other patients showed no significant disease activity after treatments for their recurrent lesions. As of April 2018, the mean follow-up duration was 39.6 ± 20.1 months (15-82 months).

CONCLUSIONS

There are multiple strategies for HEHE. Considering its indolent course, initial observation for assessment of the lesion behavior may aid in the selection of appropriate treatment. Surgery or LT is suitable for patients with disease progression during the observation period. However, our sample size was small, and further studies are required to gather more information that can aid in optimal treatment selection.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: Dilemma and challenges in the preoperative diagnosis

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare category of vascular tumor with uncertain malignant potential. It commonly presents nonspecific and variable clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to hepatic failure. In addition, laboratory measurements and imaging features also lack specificity in the diagnosis of HEHE. The aim of the present study is to highlight the dilemma and challenges in the preoperative diagnosis of HEHE, and to enhance awareness of the range of hepatobiliary surgery available in patients with multiple hepatic nodular lesions on imaging. In these patients, HEHE should at least be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a report from three university centers

Objective

To determine common imaging findings of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma on magnetic resonance images.

Materials and Methods

A search was made of three institutional databases between January 2000 and August 2012. Seven patients (mean age, 47 years; range, 21-66 years; 6 women) with pathology-confirmed diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging were identified. None of the patients had received any treatment for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma at the time of the initial magnetic resonance imaging examination.

Results

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma tumors appeared as focal masses in 7/7 patients, greater than 5 in number, with a coalescing lesion in 1/5, and peripheral localization in 6/7. Capsular retraction was present in 4/7, and was associated with peripherally located lesions. Early ring enhancement was appreciated in the majority of lesions in 7/7 patients. Centripetal progressive enhancement was shown in 5/7 patients on venous phase that exhibited a distinctive thick inner border of low signal on venous phase images, and a central core of delayed enhancement. Small lesions did not show this.

Conclusion

The combination of multifocal round-configuration lesions that are predominantly peripheral and exhibit early peripheral ring enhancement and late appearance of an inner thick border of low signal and central core of high signal may represent an important feature for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance features of intracranial hemangioendothelioma: A study of 7 cases

The current study aimed to present the neuroradiological and histopathological features of intracranial hemangioendothelioma (HE). The computed tomography (CT; n=3) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n=7) features, and the clinical presentations of 7 patients with pathologically documented HEs were retrospectively analyzed. Lesions were observed in the right side of the skull (the frontal bone in 1 patient and the parietal bone in 1 patient), the tentorium (2 patients), the cerebral falx (1 patient), the right cavernous sinus (1 patient) and the right temporal lobe (1 patient). The tumor was lobulated in 5 cases and round in 2 cases. The majority of tumors appeared isointense or hypointense with multiple scattered hyperintensities on T1-weighted MRI. Moreover, the lesions appeared as inhomogeneous hyperintense regions with multiple enlarged and tortuous blood flow voids on T2-weighted MRI. The lesions also showed marked gadolinium enhancement in a honeycomb pattern. CT scan results showed a isoattenuation region (32-47 HU), with numerous small, round, high-density foci. The 2 cases with skull lesions presented with local bone destruction and discontinuous bone lines of the tabula interna ossis cranii. In 1 case, MR angiography revealed abnormal vessels in the basilar region. A total of 4 cases were epithelial HE, 2 were retiform HE and 1 was kaposiform HE. Histological examination revealed endothelial cell proliferation with vascular lesions and a mucous matrix or dense fibrous mesenchyme. In conclusion, intracranial HE is rare, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis when evaluating intracranial neoplasms. A well-defined lobulated mass and imaging features that include internal heterogeneity, small scattered hemorrhages and thromboses, signal voids of vessels, and marked and delayed enhancement may confirm the diagnosis of HE.

Two-stage treatment with hepatectomy and carbon-ion radiotherapy for multiple hepatic epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare neoplasm of vascular origin with variable malignant potential. Because most patients with this condition have multiple bilobar lesions, liver transplantation is the standard treatment, and hepatectomy is much less frequently indicated. We describe a case of a 35-year-old woman with unresectable multiple bilobar HEH successfully treated by combination treatment with hepatectomy and carbon-ion radiotherapy. This case is very meaningful since it demonstrated the effectiveness of carbon-ion radiotherapy for HEH and the possibility of expanding the curative treatment options for multiple bilobar hepatic tumors.

Hepatic and adrenal hemangioendothelioma-a case report

Haemangioendothelioma (HE) liver is a mesenchymal vascular tumour, intermediate between a haemangioma and an angiosarcoma. It has a variable clinical course, is a low grade malignancy and is associated with long-term survival. It has a characteristic histologic appearance. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that the neoplastic cells in HE are of endothelial derivation. These are essential to distinguish HE from metastatic carcinoma and primary epithelial liver tumour. We report a case of a 36-year-old male with HE of the liver with adrenal involvement, probably metastatic, with tuberculosis as an incidental finding. To our knowledge this is the first such case reported in literature. The confirmation of diagnosis was done by immunohistochemical study.

Clinical and radiological characteristics of Chinese patients with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To study clinical features, imaging findings, and prognosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) in Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital and to improve the level of recognition and preoperative diagnosis of HEHE.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

This is a retrospective study. The study was conducted at Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital in Shanghai, China from 1999 to 2012.

METHODS

Clinical data of 15 pathology-confirmed HEHE patients admitted in our hospital from 1999-2010 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Besides 7 cases of abdominal discomfort, this cohort of HEHE patients does not show common typical manifestations. Laboratory examinations found 8 low ALB/GLB cases, 3 mild anemia cases, and 1 high alanine aminotransferase case, but no abnormal a-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, or CA19-9 cases. Plain computed tomography (CT) scanning found uneven multiple low-density lesions in most cases, dynamic enhanced CT scanning demonstrated peripheral enhancement in the hepatic arterial HA phase and more peripheral enhancement in the portal vein PV phase, and ring enhancement were detected in the delayed phase. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated low signal intensity and even lower lesion centers in T1-weighted im.ages, but slightly high signal intensity lesions and higher lesion centers in T2-weighted images. Enhanced MRI scanning showed ring enhancements but no obvious enhanced centers. Lesions were further enhanced in delayed MRI scanning. Prognosis of this cohort: 10 of these 15 patients were alive, including 4 cases with a tumor.

CONCLUSION

Comprehending the clinical and radiological characteristics of HEHE facilitates the level of recognition and preoperative diagnosis of this disease, and promotes surgeons to take active and appropriate surgeries.

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

BACKGROUND

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a very rare, low-grade vascular tumor known to arise in soft tissues and visceral organs. Clinical diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma remains a challenge, and although it is frequently managed with a liver transplant due to its multifocal nature, recurrence is a common complication.

METHODS

We review recent advances in the diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, including major genetic breakthroughs, and discuss efforts to reduce post-liver transplant recurrence of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Metronomic cyclophosphamide: an alternative treatment for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare liver mesenchymatous tumor with an epithelial aspect developed from endothelial cells with a lack of validated therapeutic options at metastatic stage. Metronomic chemotherapy has been described as an anti-angiogenic therapy leading to the depletion of circulating endothelial progenitors. We report the results of two patients treated for metastatic hemangioendothelioma with metronomic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Following initiation of metronomic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy (50mg once a day continuously), the two patients exhibited significant clinical improvement and decrease in metastasis size without any clinically relevant side-effect. Metronomic cyclophosphamide could be proposed as a new therapeutic option to treat metastatic hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Targeting of beta adrenergic receptors results in therapeutic efficacy against models of hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma

Therapeutic targeting of the beta-adrenergic receptors has recently shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of benign vascular tumors such as infantile hemangiomas. As infantile hemangiomas are reported to express high levels of beta adrenergic receptors, we examined the expression of these receptors on more aggressive vascular tumors such as hemangioendotheliomas and angiosarcomas, revealing beta 1, 2, and 3 receptors were indeed present and therefore aggressive vascular tumors may similarly show increased susceptibility to the inhibitory effects of beta blockade. Using a panel of hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma cell lines, we demonstrate that beta adrenergic inhibition blocks cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. Beta blockade is selective for vascular tumor cells over normal endothelial cells and synergistically effective when combined with standard chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic agents. We demonstrate that inhibition of beta adrenergic signaling induces large scale changes in the global gene expression patterns of vascular tumors, including alterations in the expression of established cell cycle and apoptotic regulators. Using in vivo tumor models we demonstrate that beta blockade shows remarkable efficacy as a single agent in reducing the growth of angiosarcoma tumors. In summary, these experiments demonstrate the selective cytotoxicity and tumor suppressive ability of beta adrenergic inhibition on malignant vascular tumors and have laid the groundwork for a promising treatment of angiosarcomas in humans.

Malignant hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with abdominal pain due to rapid progression

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare tumor. We report on a patient who underwent hepatectomy for malignant HEH associated with abdominal pain due to rapid progression. An 83-year-old man was admitted to Nippon Medical School Hospital because of acute, severe upper abdominal pain. Seven months before admission, a hepatic tumor, 3 cm in diameter, had been detected in the left lateral sector. The diagnosis was hepatic cavernous hemangioma. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneous hyperechoic tumor with a smooth border, 6 cm in diameter, in the left lateral sector (segment 3). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed that the tumor was enhanced from the early to the late phase. Abdominal angiography revealed a cotton wool-like appearance of the tumor. The diagnosis was hepatic cavernous hemangioma. A malignancy could not be ruled out because of the tumor's rapid growth, which had caused abdominal pain. Left hepatectomy was performed. Histopathological examination showed necrosis throughout the tumor. Slightly pleomorphic neoplastic cells with rounded, spindle-like nuclei and scant cytoplasm were sporadically found in vascular channels. Intracytoplasmic lumina occasionally contained red cells. Neoplastic cells were positive for factor VIII-related antigen, CD31, and CD34. The Mib-1 index was high. The tumor was diagnosed as malignant HEH. The postsurgical course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 11. After 3 months, multiple metastatic tumors appeared in right hepatic lobe. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed.

Hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma: is transplantation the only treatment option?

BACKGROUND

Hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare vascular neoplasm with unpredictable clinical behaviour.

AIM

To compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between liver resection (LR) and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for the treatment of HEH.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 30 patients with HEH treated at Mayo Clinic during 1984 and 2007.

RESULTS

Median age was 46 years with a female predominance of 2:1. Treatment included LR (n= 11), OLT (n= 11), chemotherapy (n= 5) and no treatment (n= 3). LR was associated with a 1-, 3- and 5-year OS of 100%, 86% and 86% and a DFS of 78%, 62% and 62%, respectively. OLT was associated with a 1-, 3- and 5-year OS of 91%, 73% and 73% and a DFS 64%, 46% and 46%, respectively. Metastases were present in 37% of patients but did not significantly affect OS. Important predictors of a favourable OS and DFS were largest tumour ≤ 10 cm and multifocal disease with ≤ 10 nodules.

CONCLUSION

LR and OLT achieve comparable results in the treatment of HEH. LR is appropriate for patients with resectable disease and favourable prognostic factors. OLT is appropriate for patients with unresectable disease and possibly those with unfavourable prognostic factors. Metastases may not be a contraindication to surgical treatment.

Liver transplantation for non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy: Indications, limitations, and analysis of the current literature

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is currently incorporated into the treatment regimens for specific nonhepatocellular malignancies. For patients suffering from early-stage, unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), OLT preceded by neoadjuvant radiotherapy has the potential to readily achieve a tumor-free margin, accomplish a radical resection, and treat underlying primary sclerosing cholangitis when present. In highly selected stage I and II patients with CCA, the 5-year survival rate is 80%. As additional data are accrued, OLT with neoadjuvant chemoradiation may become a viable alternative to resection for patients with localized, node-negative hilar CCA. Hepatic involvement from neuroendocrine tumors can be treated with OLT when metastases are unresectable or for palliation of medically uncontrollable symptoms. Five-year survival rates as high as 90% have been reported, and the Ki67 labeling index can be used to predict outcomes after OLT. Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare tumor of vascular origin. The data from single-institution series are limited, but compiled reviews have reported 1- and 10-year survival rates of 96% and 72%, respectively. Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in children. There exist subtle differences in the timing of chemotherapy between US and European centers; however, the long-term survival rate after transplantation ranges from 66% to 77%. Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a distinct liver malignancy best treated by surgical resection. However, there is an increasing amount of data supporting OLT when resection is contraindicated. In the treatment of either primary or metastatic hepatic sarcomas, unacceptable survival and recurrence rates currently prohibit the use of OLT.

[Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: an uncommon liver tumor]

We report the case of a female patient who was referred to our unit because of a solid liver tumor, suggestive of metastasis. After biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare entity with an unpredictable, potentially fatal, clinical course and outcome. Due to its rarity, this entity should be considered when a solitary hepatic lesion is detected and should be included in the differential diagnosis with liver metastases. We highlight the infrequency of this tumor, its presentation as a solitary hepatic lesion and the indication of surgical treatment. We describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver and report a new case of this entity. The distinct therapeutic options are discussed.