Cavernous hemangioma of the intercostal space

Intercostal hemangiomas coexisting with multiple hepatic hemangiomas: Clinical and imaging findings in a single case report with a review of the literature

RATIONALE

Intercostal hemangioma (IH) is an extremely rare disease, with only 18 cases reported in the past 30 years. Herein, we report the first case of IH coexisting with multiple hepatic hemangiomas, which recurred 32 months after surgery with rib erosion. IHs are invasive and difficult to distinguish from other intercostal tumors on imaging. To date, there have been no review articles on the imaging findings of IHs. We hope that this article will help clinicians improve their ability to diagnose and treat IH.

PATIENTS CONCERNS

A 58-year-old male came to our hospital with gastrointestinal disease. Chest tumors were accidentally discovered on routine chest computed tomography (CT). The patient had no chest symptoms. The patient also had multiple liver tumors that had been present for 2 years but with no remarkable changes.

DIAGNOSIS

Plain chest CT revealed 2 adjacent masses protruding from the left chest wall into the thoracic cavity. Neurogenic tumors or hamartomas were suspected on enhanced CT scans. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan indicated multiple liver tumors as MMHs, which was consistent with the 2 previous Doppler ultrasound findings.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgeons removed the chest tumors by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. No treatment was provided for the MMHs.

OUTCOMES

Two tumors of the chest wall were diagnosed as the IHs. There were no significant changes in the hepatic tumors after 32 months of follow-up. Unfortunately, the IH recurred, and the left 5th rib was slightly eroded.

LESSONS

It is necessary to include IHs as a potential differential diagnosis for chest wall tumors because early clinical intervention can prevent tumor growth and damage to adjacent structures. The imaging findings of IH show special characteristics. Preoperative imaging evaluation and diagnosis of IH are helpful for safe and effective surgery. Because of the high recurrence rate, complete surgical resection of IH with a sufficient tumor-free margin is recommended. It should be noted that the ribs should also be removed when the surrounding ribs are suspected to have been violated.

Imaging findings of an intercostal hemangioma

SUMMARY

The authors present the imaging findings in a 44-year-old woman with a rare intercostal hemangioma that originated from the connective tissue between the intercostal muscle and parietal pleura and protruded into the thoracic cavity. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a markedly enhancing mass, whereas dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) images showed heterogeneous and strong enhancement with incomplete early eccentric enhancement peripherally followed by complete filling-in on delayed scans. The imaging features of CT and MR imaging of a hemangioma may be useful for proper preoperative diagnosis.