A case of congenital tufted angioma mimicking cavernous hemangioma

Congenital tufted angioma: A multicenter retrospective study of 30 cases

BACKGROUND

Recent reports indicate that tufted angioma is a rare vascular neoplasm that manifests more frequently at birth than previously thought. Few studies specifically address congenital presentation.

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics, clinical course, and treatment of congenital tufted angioma (cTA) and evaluated variables that were indicative of problematic lesions.

METHODS

We performed an observational retrospective study of 30 patients with cTA in 9 Spanish hospitals over a 14-year period. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies were performed.

RESULTS

Congenital tufted angioma mainly affected the limbs (56.67%), followed by the face and/or neck (23.33%). Almost three-quarters of facial cTA were located over the mandibular area. Immunohistochemically, proliferating cells expressed markers of endothelial cells, with some clusters of cells, especially at the periphery of the aggregates, showing positivity for podoplanin. As no associated complications were observed in 66.67% of cases, no treatment was started.

LIMITATIONS

Data were collected retrospectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings emphasize the clinical features and course of cTA. The possibility of cTA should be considered when a poorly defined congenital infiltrative vascular tumor with(out) overlying hirsutism appears over the mandibular area. Location on the face and/or neck requires a more comprehensive workup, since potentially severe complications often appear early.

Congenital tufted angioma

A 7-year-old Filipino girl presented to the dermatology clinic with a slowly enlarging plaque on the inner aspect of her upper left arm. Although she had this lesion since birth, it had gradually enlarged and become indurated and slightly painful. The histopathologic examination showed a vascular proliferation within the dermis, with a "cannonball" appearance consistent with a tufted angioma. We review the literature and discuss the clinical presentation of this rare vascular tumor.