Haemangiopericytoma: problems in diagnosis and management

Hemangiopericytoma of the hand: a literature review and case study

We present a case of hemangiopericytoma of the hand. We also attempt to differentiate hemangiopericytoma from glomus tumor with a summary of the history and a comprehensive review of the literature demonstrating the malignant character of the neoplasm, and we offer some guidelines for treatment.

Hemangiopericytoma: characteristic features observed by magnetic resonance imaging and angiography

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumor which may originate wherever there are capillaries. We report a case of this tumor occurring in a 79-year-old Japanese man, which originated from the subcutaneous tissues of the left upper arm and reached a size of 6 x 5 x 4 cm. Histopathological and electron microscopical findings were compatible with those of benign-type hemangiopericytoma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the most intense signal on proton density images. Angiography showed the characteristic tumor feeder artery forming a pedicle which entered the tumor and branched radially and a dense, uniform, well-demarcated, oval tumor stain. These images were helpful in performing proper operative treatment without noteworthy bleeding. These modern modalities are excellent non-invasive treatment without diagnostic procedures for the vascular tumors of soft tissues in dermatology.

Does radiotherapy have a role in hemangiopericytoma management? Report of 14 new cases and a review of the literature

From 1948 to 1984, 14 adult patients received radiation therapy as a part of their treatment for hemangiopericytoma at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston. In addition to radiation therapy 11 patients were treated with surgery, with or without chemotherapy--5 as primary management and 6 after recurrence following surgical excision. Although 9 of these 11 patients had macroscopic and 1 had definite microscopic disease at the time of irradiation, none suffered local recurrence and 9 have survived from 3.5 years to 20 years free of disease. Two of the 11 patients died of distant metastases. Two patients completed treatment for palliation and 1 of them survived for 2 years after treatment. The results suggest that postoperative radiation therapy should be considered as an integral part of the primary treatment of hemangiopericytoma.

Malignant hemangiopericytoma of the parapharyngeal space

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular neoplasm, occasionally occurring in the head and neck region. Diagnosis is made histologically, but even then, it is difficult to predict the behavior of the tumor in an individual patient. The patient described in this report presented with symptoms of parapharyngeal compression due to such a tumor. It is believed that malignant hemangiopericytoma has not been previously reported in this site.