Malignant pleuropulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma – Unusual presentation of an aggressive angiogenic neoplasm

Primary pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare tumour of vascular origin with low to intermediate malignancy. Typical radiological finding on CT is multiple small nodules in bilateral lungs, and some will have punctate calcifications and pleural thickening. The diagnosis of PEH is confirmed by histopathological findings and positive immunohistochemistry staining. We report a case of a woman in her 50s with a medical history of lung adenocarcinoma. Later, regular chest CT during a routine cancer follow-up revealed multiple small pulmonary nodules and increased sizes of these nodules on serial images, initially misdiagnosed as multiple lung metastases. The histopathological diagnosis was made on a pulmonary wedge resection. Finally, PEH was diagnosed on the basis of positive immunohistochemical staining for CD31, ERF and TFE3. In the current study, the clinicopathological features and review of the literature were investigated. Our case highlights the importance of a histological diagnosis to avoid misdiagnosis.

Primary epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas and angiosarcomas of the pleura: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 13 cases

Thirteen cases of primary epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas (EHE) and epithelioid angiosarcomas (EA) of the pleura are presented. The patients were 7 men and 6 women between the ages of 34 and 65 years (mean: 47 years). The patients presented with non-specific symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and chest pain. Diagnostic imaging revealed the presence of either diffuse pleural thickening or pleural nodules involving the serosal surfaces. Open surgical biopsies were obtained in all cases. Histologically, eight tumors were characterized by the presence of a cellular proliferation composed of medium-sized epithelioid cells embedded in a myxohyaline stroma and a variable spindle cell component. Cellular atypia was mild to moderate and mitotic activity ranged from 1 to 2 per 2 mm2. Immunohistochemical stains for vascular markers, including CAMTA1 were positive, confirming a diagnosis of EHE. Five cases of epithelioid angiosarcomas were characterized by a neoplastic cellular proliferation admixed with areas of necrosis and hemorrhage and characterized by medium-sized epithelioid to spindle-shaped cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, round to oval nuclei and prominent nucleoli. In addition, marked cytologic atypia and a mitotic activity ranging from 3 to 5 per 2 mm2 were identified. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated positive staining for vascular markers; however, CAMTA1 was negative. Clinical follow-up obtained in eleven cases showed that all patients had died within 30 months post diagnosis. The current study highlights that even though it may be important to histologically separate EHE from EA for academic purposes, primary pleural origin of these tumors appears to portent an aggressive clinical behavior.

Primary lung cancer in children and adolescents: Analysis of a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database

Background

The incidence of primary lung cancer (LC) in children and adolescence was rare. We analyzed data from a SEER database to better define the incidence, clinical characters, pathology, treatment, and outcomes of rare primary malignant pulmonary tumors in childhood and adolescence.

Methods

Patients were chosen from the SEER database (SEER*Stat 8.4.0 software) from 2000 to 2019 and all patients were pathologically diagnosed with primary malignant tumors of the lung and bronchus. Demographic characteristics of patients (age, gender, race, primary site, laterality, location, differentiation grade, operation methods, histology, and history of radiotherapy and chemotherapy), as well as TNM stage and survival time, were collected.

Results

A total of 301 cases of children ≤19 years of age with a primary malignant pulmonary tumor were reported to the SEER database from 2000 to 2019. There were 143 men (47.5%) and 158 women (52.5%). Whites represented majority of patients (79.7%), followed by Black (13.6%) and others (6.7%). As for the primary site, the main site was the lower lobe (33.2%), followed by the upper lobe (26.9%). Most of the patients (80.4%) underwent surgery. Lobectomy (39.9%) is the main operation method. Only 28 (9.3%) patients received radiotherapy and 112 (37.2) patients received chemotherapy. Carcinoid tumor was the most common histology (29.6%), followed by pulmonary blastoma (PB) (22.3%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) (12.3%), adenocarcinoma (10.3%), neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (5.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (5.3%), atypical carcinoma (2.3%). The mean follow-up time was 100 months. For the entire group of children and adolescents, the 1-year OS was 89.1%, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 79.7%. the 5-year OS was 77.9%, the 10-year OS was 75.7%, and the 15-year OS was 73.9%. And 1-year lung cancer specificity survival (LCSS) was 89.8%, and the 3-year LCSS was 80.4%. the 5-year LCSS was 79.4%, the 10-year LCSS was 77.7%, and the 15-year LCSS was 75.9%. The OS of atypical carcinoma, carcinoid tumor, and MEC were in the top three.

Conclusions

Primary LC in children and adolescent were rare and histopathological diverse. Fortunately, children and adolescents with LC had an overall favorable outcome after treatment. Histology, differentiation grade, surgery, TNM stage, and therapeutic modalities have important influence on OS. The further treatment experience of each pathological type would make better evidence-based practice possible.

Apatinib for the treatment of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (P-EHE) is a rare tumor, with no established standard treatment. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) has been reported in some P-EHE patients. Apatinib, a new small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that specifically targets VEGFR-2, has therapeutic benefits in some advanced tumors. However, its efficacy in P-EHE cases has not been reported.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Herein, we presented a 44-year-old man with recurrent hemoptysis for approximately 9 years.

DIAGNOSES

After hospitalization, relevant examinations were conducted. The disease was subsequently diagnosed as P-EHE.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent pulmonary lobectomy, but subsequently developed multiple metastases. Within the tumor, CD31, CK, and Vimentin were found to be positive, while CD34 was negative. Apatinib was initially administered 250 mg daily doses and after 1 month was increased to 500 mg daily.

OUTCOMES

He showed noticeable symptomatic improvements and positive imaging changes in the first month of treatment. However, the disease progressed in the following month, despite the increased apatinib dose.

LESSONS

Apatinib is possibly a new treatment for P-EHE. However, further clinical trials are necessary to confirm an effective dose and the efficacy and safety of apatinib in P-EHE treatment.