A case of solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma indicating true gross appearance

Solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma - An underrecognized rare tumor. Report of 32 new cases with literature review

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical, imaging, pathologic characteristics and differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma (SPCH).

METHODS

Thirty two cases of SPCH were collected and studied, with literature review.

RESULTS

This study included 13 males and 19 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.5. The age ranged from 26 to 70 years (median age of 43 years). All patients were asymptomatic at presentation. Lung nodules were incidentally discovered during chest computed tomography (CT). Imaging features included 21 cases with partial solid nodules (PSN), 7 cases with ground-glass nodules (GGN), and 4 cases with solid nodules (SN). Eleven cases were in the left lung lower basal segment, 11 cases in the right lung lower basal segment, 6 cases in the right lung upper anterior segment, and 4 cases in the right lung middle lateral segment. The lower basal segments of the lungs were involved in 22 (11 in each lung) cases (22/32, 68 %). The tumors ranged from 6 to 18 mm (average 10 mm). Macroscopically, 16 cases had clear boundaries, while 16 cases had unclear boundaries, and gray-red or dark brown on cut surfaces. Intraoperative frozen section was performed in 27 cases, with diagnosis of SPCH in 12 and pneumonia or inflammatory lesion in 15. Microscopically, the nodules were composed of densely proliferated and dilated capillaries. The capillary walls were lined with a single layer of flat endothelial cells, without atypical features. Collapsed alveolar septa were replaced by a large number of capillaries. All cases showed proliferating capillaries spreading into the walls of small veins/arteries and bronchi, with 3 cases showing dilated capillaries protruding into the bronchiolar lumens as polyp-like structures. Twenty-six cases (26/32, 81 %) showed proliferating capillaries passed over the interlobular septa. Twenty-six cases (26/32, 81 %) showed irregular intimal thickening of small muscular arteries in the peripheral areas of the lesions, with the thickened intima being cellular or fibrous. In twenty-seven cases (27/32, 84 %) the lesions were located in the subpleura, with 6 cases involving the pleura.

CONCLUSION

SPCH is a rare benign lung tumor that mostly occurs in the lung lower basal segments with predominance in females. It usually appears as a ground-glass nodule on CT and is very similar to early-stage lung cancer. Accurate diagnosis requires collaboration of radiologists, surgeons, and pathologists. SPCH should be regarded as an important differential diagnosis of small incidental lung nodules.

Uniportal thoracoscopic extended right apical segmentectomy with virtual-assisted lung mapping: a case report

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary extended segmentectomy is an optional surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that helps to achieve optimal surgical margins. Here, we describe a challenging instance of extended segmentectomy via uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery with virtual-assisted lung mapping, a preoperative bronchoscopic dye marking procedure.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 72-year-old woman presented with two tumors that were clinically diagnosed as early-stage lung cancer; extended right apical segmentectomy was indicated. Because the tumors had appeared unidentifiable intraoperatively, we performed virtual-assisted lung mapping for tumor localization and delineation of the optimal resection area. Surgery was conducted through a single port. All virtual-assisted lung mapping markings were visible. After dissection of the apical vessels and bronchi, a putative intersegmental line was determined using collateral ventilation. Based on the putative intersegmental plane identified by collateral ventilation and the virtual-assisted lung mapping markings, the resection line was delineated. Extended apical segmentectomy along the resection line was successfully performed via uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful. The pathological diagnosis was minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ.

CONCLUSIONS

Virtual-assisted lung mapping can help to achieve optimal extended segmentectomy via uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.

A case of resected pulmonary capillary hemangioma with a literature review

Pulmonary hemangiomas are benign, relatively rare tumours. Because computed tomography (CT) findings show a variety of images, it is often difficult to distinguish hemangiomas from lung cancer and other benign tumours. We report a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with a pulmonary capillary hemangioma (PCH). A right lung basal segmentectomy was performed for diagnosis and treatment. On chest CT, the lesion was shown to be a solid nodule with contrast-enhanced margins. This finding was thought to reflect the dense vascular hyperplasia of the central part of the tumour based on the pathologic findings. Although few studies involving PCH have referred to contrast-enhanced CT, the findings of contrast-enhanced CT might be a valuable indicator for diagnosing PCH.

Solitary Pulmonary Capillary Hemangioma: CT and PET-CT Features with Clinicopathologic Correlation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT and PET-CT features of solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma (SPCH) with clinicopathologic correlations. This retrospective study included 17 patients with histologically proven SPCH from four tertiary institutions. The clinical, pathological and imaging findings of SPCH were reviewed. The CT features assessed included lesion location, size, density, contour, margin, enhancement, presence of air bronchogram, perivascular lucency and pleural retraction, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on PET-CT. Changes in the size during the follow-up period were also evaluated. Imaging features were correlated with the clinicopathologic findings. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (range 30–60 years). All SPCHs were incidentally detected during screening CT examinations (n = 13, 76%) or during cancer work-up (n = 4, 24%). Most SPCHs appeared as part-solid nodules (n = 15, 88%), the remaining appeared as a pure ground-glass nodule or a pure solid nodule, respectively. Most had smooth contours (n = 16, 94%), while one had a lobulated contour. Nine SPCHs (53%) showed ill-defined margins. Air bronchogram was present in ten (59%) SPCHs, and perivascular lucency in two (12%). All SPCHs exhibited hypoattenuation on contrast-enhanced CT and hypometabolism on PET-CT. During the follow-up period (mean 14.8 ± 17.7 months), the lesions showed no change in size or density in ten SPCHs (59%), decreased or fluctuation in size and density in three (18%). SPCH is often incidentally detected in young and middle-aged adults, commonly as an ill-defined part-solid nodule that may accompany air bronchogram, perivascular lucency, and fluctuation in size or density on CT and hypometabolism on PET-CT.

Progressively increasing density of the solid center of a ground-glass nodule in a solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma: A case report

Solitary pulmonary capillary hemangiomas (SPCHs) are recently recognized, rare benign lesions that form solitary nodules owing to capillary proliferation. These lesions are usually detected incidentally as small ground-glass nodules (GGNs) on computed tomography (CT), and progressively enlarge over time. The radiological distinction from peripheral lung cancers is particularly challenging. However, to date, there have been no reports on progressive changes in the central density of SPCH on CT. An asymptomatic 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital for an abnormal shadow that was detected on chest CT during medical check-up. He was subsequently followed-up with chest CT. The nodule increased in size, and the central area became progressively denser. He underwent surgery 5 years and 10 months after the first visit owing to suspicion of lung cancer. Despite the collapse of the surgical specimen by artifacts, histopathological examination revealed a diagnosis of SPCH; collagenous fibers were found in the walls of the intralesional capillaries. The patient is presently alive without any recurrence, 6 months after the operation. In this case, the SPCH demonstrated a GGN with progressively increasing density of the central solid area on the CT. This remarkable feature made the preoperative distinction from lung cancer particularly difficult.

Preoperative lung surface localization for pulmonary wedge resection: a single-center experience

Background

Preoperative lung surface localization is effective in sublobar resection for small lung nodules. However, the efficacy may vary depending on the underlying conditions of the lung and tumor, as well as the technique. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and limitations of preoperative lung surface localization for wedge resection by analyzing the outcomes of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous marking and virtual-assisted lung mapping (VAL-MAP).

Methods

We investigated 215 patients who underwent curative wedge resection for malignant tumors using CT-guided localization or VAL-MAP from 1998 to 2018 in our institute. Each resected nodule was assessed for successful resection, which was defined as complete resection with adequate margins.

Results

One-hundred-and-nineteen patients with 153 nodules were included. The overall successful resection rate was 87.6%. The successful resection rate was significantly lower for nodules with intraoperative adhesion than those without intraoperative adhesion (75.0% vs. 90.1%; P=0.034), and for tumors requiring deep resection margins (>31 mm) than those requiring shallow margins (≤31 mm) (76.7% vs. 94.6%; P=0.002). Although the successful resection rate for nodules resected using CT-guided localization was significantly lower in cases with versus without intraoperative adhesion (54.5% vs. 86.7%; P=0.048), the successful resection rate for nodules resected using VAL-MAP was not influenced by the presence or absence of adhesion (85.7% vs. 93.4%; P=0.491).

Conclusions

A requirement for deeper resection and the presence of intraoperative adhesion were limitations of preoperative lung surface localization for curative pulmonary wedge resection.

Mesenchymal tumors of the lung: diagnostic pathology, molecular pathogenesis, and identified biomarkers

Lung cancers are mainly composed of epithelial tumors such as carcinomas. Since mesenchymal tumors that arise in the lung are very rare, they have garnered little attention. The 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lung tumors has undergone revision, not only for carcinomas but also for mesenchymal tumors. The current version now includes PEComatous tumors, myoepithelial tumors, and pulmonary myxoid sarcomas with EWSR1-CREB1 translocation as new disease entities. To date, no review article has comprehensively summarized what is known about pulmonary mesenchymal tumors in accordance with the latest WHO classification. In this review, we attempt to summarize the data about these tumors in line with the 2015 WHO classification (except for pediatric tumors), focusing on their diagnostic pathology, molecular pathogenesis, and identified biomarkers for differential diagnoses. We also address the recently recognized pulmonary mesenchymal tumors that have not yet been included in the WHO classification. An increased understanding of the molecular characteristics of pulmonary mesenchymal tumors has the potential to provide clinicians with the best therapeutic options for patients with these tumors.

Solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma: An under-recognized pulmonary lesion mimicking early lung cancer on computed tomography images

OBJECTIVES

Solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma (SPCH) is a rare lung tumor typically presenting as pure or part-solid ground-glass nodules (GGNs) on computed tomography (CT), which clinically resembles early lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In addition to 10 recently diagnosed patients with SPCH, 71 benign lung nodules that were surgically resected between January 2013 and December 2017 were reviewed by thoracic pathologists to identify any previously unrecognized SPCH cases. Finally, 6 tumors (8.5%; 6/71) were determined to be SPCH. Elastic fiber stain (orcein stain) as well as immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin, CD31, and thyroid transcription factor 1 were performed for confirmation. Clinical and radiological data were analyzed.

RESULTS

All 16 SPCH lesions were unrecognized or misdiagnosed by general pathologists. The SPCH ranged in size from 3 to 15 mm, and a predominance among women (68.8%; 11/16) was noted. Pathologically, all SPCH lesions were nodular with a higher vascular density than the adjacent lung tissue. Decreased cytokeratin staining and disrupted elastic fibers were clearly observed in all SPCH lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

SPCH lesions mimic early lung cancer on CT; they are largely unrecognized by general pathologists and are diagnosed as other nonspecific benign lesions. With careful histologic examination, SPCH can be successfully diagnosed using cytokeratin/CD31 immunohistochemistry and elastic fiber staining.