Multiple cutaneous infantile hemangiomas associated with hepatic angiosarcoma: case report and review of the literature

Review on Pediatric Malignant Focal Liver Lesions with Imaging Evaluation: Part II

Malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs) represent various kinds of epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. In pediatric patients, the understanding of pediatric liver diseases and associated imaging manifestations is essential for making accurate diagnosis and differential diagnosis. This paper will discuss the latest knowledge of the common pediatric malignant FLLs, including undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, angiosarcoma, and malignant rhabdoid tumor. Medical imaging features are not only helpful for clinical diagnosis, but can also be useful in the evaluation and follow-up of pre- and post-treatment. The future perspectives of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) enhancement patterns of FLLs in pediatric patients are also mentioned.

Radiologic and Clinical Features of Infantile Hemangioma: Potential Pitfalls and Differential Diagnosis

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common neoplasm in children, but it may mimic other types of vascular anomalies or nonvascular benign and malignant tumors. In most cases, the clinical appearance, time of onset, and pattern of involution facilitate its diagnosis. Imaging evaluation is not always needed since the IH features at clinical presentation are usually characteristic, but when needed, US and frequently MRI are the imaging modalities of choice. Clinical photography or photographic documentation plays a central role in monitoring these lesions over their clinical course. Photographic documentation can also add confidence and alert the radiologist when interpreting imaging studies. Some vascular anomalies, especially vascular malformations, are a frequent source of confusion, as these may resemble IHs clinically and at imaging. The lack of uniform terminology also hinders an accurate diagnosis. To unify the terminology and minimize confusion, the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies created a helpful classification in 1994. In addition, radiologists need to be aware of and become familiar with other neoplasms in children that may resemble IH to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures. Fibrous and lipomatous tumors are examples of benign tumors that can mimic IHs clinically and at imaging, whereas rhabdomyosarcoma, infantile fibrosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and lymphoproliferative disorders are examples of malignant neoplasms. The authors review the features of IH at clinical presentation and imaging evaluation, highlighting its different phases of evolution and stressing the importance of photographic documentation. The authors also review pitfalls of IH with helpful pearls for differentiation. ©RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. See the invited commentary by Khanna and Briones in this issue.

Pediatric hepatic vascular tumors: clinicopathologic characteristics of 33 cases and proposed updates to current classification schemes

Pediatric hepatic vascular tumors (HVTs) are rare neoplasms with features distinct from their cutaneous counterparts. Their behavior ranges from benign to malignant, with each subtype having therapeutic differences. Histopathologic descriptions of large cohorts are scarce in the literature. Thirty-three putative HVTs diagnosed from 1970 to 2021 were retrieved. All available clinical and pathologic materials were reviewed. Lesions were reclassified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pediatric tumors [1] as hepatic congenital hemangioma (HCH; n = 13), hepatic infantile hemangioma (HIH; n = 10), hepatic angiosarcoma (HA; n = 3), and hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH; n = 1). Vascular malformations (n = 5) or vascular-dominant mesenchymal hamartoma (n = 1) were excluded. HCH frequently showed involutional changes, whereas HIH often had anastomosing channels and pseudopapillae formation. HA had solid areas with epithelioid and/or spindled endothelial morphology, significant atypia, increased mitoses, high proliferation index, and occasionally necrosis. On morphology analysis, a subset of HIH showed features worrisome for progression to HA including solid glomeruloid proliferation, increased mitoses, and epithelioid morphology. The widely metastatic and fatal HEH was observed in a 5-year-old male with multiple liver lesions. Immunohistochemically, HIHs and HA were Glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT-1) positive. One HIH patient died from postoperative complications, whereas 3 are alive without disease. Five HCH patients are alive and well. Two of three HA patients died of disease, and 1 is alive without recurrence. To our knowledge, this is the largest series of pediatric HVTs reviewing clinicopathologic features based on current Pediatric WHO nomenclature [1]. We highlight diagnostic challenges and propose inclusion of an intermediate category between HIH and HA which warrants closer follow-up.

Current concepts of vascular anomalies

Vascular anomalies encompass a variety of malformations and tumors that can result in severe morbidity and mortality in both adults and children. Advances have been made in the classification and diagnosis of these anomalies, with the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies establishing a widely recognized classification system. In recent years, notable progress has been made in genetic testing and imaging techniques, enhancing our ability to diagnose these conditions. The increasing sophistication of genetic testing has facilitated the identification of specific genetic mutations that help treatment decisions. Furthermore, imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography have greatly improved our capacity to visualize and detect vascular abnormalities, enabling more accurate diagnoses. When considering reconstructive surgery for facial vascular anomalies, it is important to consider both functional and cosmetic results of the procedure. Therefore, a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from dermatology, radiology, and genetics is often required to ensure effective management of these conditions. Overall, the treatment approach for facial vascular anomalies depends on the type, size, location, and severity of the anomaly. A thorough evaluation by a team of specialists can determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.

The role of liver transplantation in the care of primary hepatic vascular tumours in children

Liver transplantation (LT) is the standard of care for many liver conditions, such as end-stage liver diseases, inherited metabolic disorders, and primary liver malignancies. In the latter group, indications of LT for hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma evolved and are currently available for many non-resectable cases. However, selection criteria apply, as the absence of active metastases. Evidence of good long-term outcomes has validated the LT approach for managing these malignancies in the context of specialist and multidisciplinary approach. Nevertheless, LT's role in treating primary vascular tumours of the liver in children, both benign and malignant, remains somewhat controversial. The rarity of the different diseases and the heterogeneity of pathological definitions contribute to the controversy and make evaluating the benefit/risk ratio and outcomes quite difficult. In this narrative review, we give an overview of primary vascular tumours of the liver in children, the possible indications and the outcomes of LT.

Infantile hepatic hemangiomas: looking backwards and forwards

Infantile hepatic hemangiomas (IHHs) are common benign tumors seen in the liver of infants. IHHs are true infantile hemangiomas (IHs) and have phases of proliferation and involution parallel to those of cutaneous IHs. The definition and classification of IHH are still confusing in the literature. The mechanisms during the pathogenesis of IHH have yet to be discovered. The clinical manifestations of IHH are heterogeneous. Although most IHH lesions are asymptomatic, some lesions can lead to severe complications, such as hypothyroidism, consumptive coagulopathy, and high-output congestive cardiac failure. Consequently, some patients can possibly encounter a fatal clinical condition. The heterogeneity of the lesions and the occurrence of disease-related comorbidities can make the treatment of IHH challenging. Oral propranolol is emerging as an effective systemic approach to IHH with obvious responses in tumor remission and symptom regression. However, the precise clinical characteristics and treatment strategies for patients with severe IHH have not yet been well established. Here, we summarize the epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of IHH. Recent updates and future perspectives for IHH will also be elaborated.

Is primary hepatic angiosarcoma in children an indication for liver transplantation?-A single-centre experience and review of the literature

PHA in the paediatric population is an extremely rare and aggressive malignant soft tissue neoplasm, with less than 50 cases published worldwide. The prognosis is dismal. If the tumour is unresectable, one treatment option is LT. In this article, the current available literature is reviewed and additionally, three cases of paediatric patients with PHA who underwent LT at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, are presented. Based on the literature and our own experience, there is undoubtedly possible good outcome of LT due to PHA. On the contrary, no patients have survived PHA without LT. PHA in paediatric patients should be recommended to LT in selected patients. Effect of modern adjuvant chemo and RT should be evaluated further based on international registry for such rare cases of PHA.

A Step-by-Step Sonographic Approach to Vascular Anomalies in the Pediatric Population: A Pictorial Essay

Vascular anomalies are a common cause of soft-tissue masses in children and often referred for ultrasonographic (USG) evaluation. They are broadly classified as vascular tumors (hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, and angiosarcomas) or vascular malformations (venous malformations, lymphatic malformations, and arteriovenous malformations). Findings on USG and Doppler imaging can be used to categorize vascular anomalies into high- or low-flow lesions, which forms the basis for further workup, diagnosis, and management. On careful evaluation of various sonographic features, in conjunction with clinical findings, an accurate clinicoradiological diagnosis can be made in most cases. Further imaging with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or computed tomography (CT) helps in delineation of lesion extent, whereas MR or CT angiography is useful to map the vascular supply of high-flow lesions. We have illustrated and discussed a step-by-step approach to diagnose vascular anomalies using ultrasound and Doppler imaging.

Primary malignant vascular tumors of the liver in children: Angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Primary malignant vascular neoplasms of the liver, angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, are extremely rare entities in the pediatric population. International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies classification system is recommended for the pathologic diagnosis of hepatic vascular lesions in this age group. In this article, we highlight the clinicopathologic characteristics of hepatic angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in the pediatric population. Hepatic angiosarcoma in children shows a slight female predominance with an average age of 40 mo at diagnosis. The distinct histologic features include whorls of atypical spindled cells and eosinophilic globules, in addition to the general findings of angiosarcoma. Histologic diagnosis of pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma is not always straightforward, and the diagnostic challenges are discussed in the article. Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma also demonstrates a female predominance, but is more commonly identified in adolescents (median age at diagnosis: 12 years). Histologically, the lesion is characterized by epithelioid cells and occasional intracytoplasmic lumina with a background of fibromyxoid stroma. While WWTR1-CAMTA1 and YAP1-TFE3 fusions have been associated with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, there are currently no known signature genetic alterations seen in pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma. Advancement in molecular pathology, particularly for pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma, is necessary for a better understanding of the disease biology, diagnosis, and development of targeted therapies.

Pediatric Primary Hepatic Tumors: Diagnostic Considerations

The liver is the third most common site of abdominal tumors in children. This review article aims to summarize current evidence surrounding identification and diagnosis of primary hepatic tumors in the pediatric population based upon clinical presentation, epidemiology, and risk factors as well as classical imaging, histopathological, and molecular diagnostic findings. Readers will be able to recognize the features and distinguish between benign and malignant hepatic tumors within different age groups.

Brief Description of ISSVA Classification for Radiologists

Ongoing discovery regarding the origin and treatment of vascular anomalies requires standardized nomenclature which itself must undergo iterative updating. This article introduces the 2018 International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification, emphasizing the biologic basis of vascular anomalies, summarizing the key features of commonly encountered entities, and serving as a foundation for subsequent articles presented herein. Vascular tumors are discussed to highlight their distinction from vascular malformations which will receive greater attention with respect to management and technical considerations within the issue.

Infantile Hemangioma Presenting as Colocolic Intussusception in an Infant Case Report with Review of Pathologic Lead Points

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is one of the most common vascular anomalies of early childhood and is usually recognized in the first few weeks to months of life as a solitary cutaneous lesion. This report documents our experience with a GLUT-1 positive IH presenting as the pathologic lead point in a colocolic intussusception in a 10-week-old infant who had no skin lesions. Literature suggests approximately 2% of all children presenting with an intussusception require surgical intervention; however, an IH as the pathologic lead point is unique.

Approach to haemangiomatosis causing congestive heart failure

Haemangiomas represent the most common tumour of infancy. Although most cases are cutaneous benign lesions, multiple skin haemangiomas are associated with visceral involvement, especially of the liver. Hepatic haemangiomatosis may be complicated by high-output cardiac failure due to high-flow arteriovenous connections within the lesions. Different therapeutic strategies for treating haemangiomatosis causing heart failure include medical, surgical and interventional modalities. This study aimed to review the treatment options, discuss their benefits and flaws and propose a practical therapeutic approach for this medical situation.

CONCLUSION

Our approach incorporates heart failure medications, dietary support and propranolol as first-line treatment, while corticosteroids, vincristine, percutaneous intervention and surgery are reserved for refractory cases.

Vascular anomalies of the head and neck in children

Sixty percent of vascular anomalies in children are found in the head and neck. These lesions can present throughout antenatal, perinatal and childhood development. They broadly fall into two categories: vascular tumours and vascular malformations. Their clinical and, often, psychological impact is determined by both pathological type and location: many lesions follow an uncomplicated natural course and other more complex, extensive or progressive lesions can present a threat to life from mass effect, haemorrhage or large volume arteriovenous shunting. Vascular tumours include infantile haemangioma (IH), congenital haemangioma (CH) and kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KH); of which IH is the most common. Management options for vascular tumours include conservative approaches, oral medications and surgical intervention as determined by tumour type, location and associated complications. Vascular malformations can be categorised into low flow and high flow lesions. Low flow lesions include capillary, venous and lymphatic malformations (LMs). High flow lesions describe the arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), a highly heterogeneous group of lesions which can present in a variety of ways-the mainstay of treatment for these dynamic lesions is endovascular or surgical obliteration. We provide a practical framework for clinical classification of vascular anomalies of the head and neck in children. We also explore principles of their clinical and radiological assessment along with management, highlighting the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach.

Hepatic vascular tumors

The most common hepatic vascular tumor in the pediatric population is the infantile hepatic hemangioma. Although these lesions have a spectrum of presentations, there are three main subtypes that have been described-focal, multifocal, and diffuse. An algorithm on the workup, treatment, and follow-up of these lesions can be based on this categorization. Recent shifts in the management of hemangiomas with beta-blockers (propranolol) have also influenced the treatment of hepatic hemangiomas. This article reviews the current understanding of hepatic hemangiomas and protocols in the management of these patients.

Current classification and terminology of pediatric vascular anomalies

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to review new terminology to diagnose, classify, and refer patients with vascular anomalies for additional imaging, intervention, and treatment.

CONCLUSION

In recent decades, much has been learned regarding the histopathology, cause, and treatment of vascular anomalies. As information has been gleaned, a new classification system has emerged that divides vascular anomalies into neoplasms and malformations. Its utility is based on accurate initial diagnosis that correlates consistently with clinical presentation, disease course, and treatment.

Congestive heart failure with diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis--case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Vascular hemangiomas are considered to be a common finding among neonates and infants. The presence of five or more cutaneous hemangiomas may carry a higher incidence of multiple organ involvement

MATERIALS & METHODS

An eleven week old female infant with high cardiac output heart failure and multiple cutaneous hemangiomas was referred to our clinic. Soon after birth she failed to gain weight and developed breathlessness. There was partial response to Captopril and Frusemide therapy, with development of a progressive cough. Echocardiogram and liver and brain ultrasound scans revealed heart chamber enlargement, multiple liver hemangiomas and an isolated cerebellar arterio-venous malformation (AVM). Supportive treatment for congestive heart failure combined with propranolol therapy resulted in rapid clinical response and recovery.

DISCUSSION

The diagnosis of Diffuse Neonatal Hemangiomatosis in infants with failure to thrive and symptoms of heart failure raises the possibility of internal organ involvement. Augmentation of propranolol in such cases may cause regression of Hemangiomatosis with patient clinical improvement.

CONCLUSION

We report our experience with a single patient of Hemangiomatosis induced heart failure which responded to propranolol combined with medication to control heart failure and failure to thrive prevention. This treatment should be further evaluated with special attention to potential adverse effects, tolerance and compliance.

Current concepts in pediatric liver tumors

Liver tumors in children can be classified into benign or malignant; some of the benign lesions can have the potential of malignant transformation, and therefore the therapeutic approach may change. These neoplasms account for nearly 1-2% of all pediatric tumors and they have gained significant attention in the last decades due to data suggesting that the incidence may be increasing 5% annually. We know that with new and improved imaging modalities some of these lesions may be detected more often than before. Recent studies showed that liver cancer represented 2% of malignancies in infants by 1980s and this was doubled in incidence to 4% in the following 10 yr. In this review our aim is to discuss all primary liver tumors in children with attention to their clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features followed by the current standard of care.

Widening spectrum of liver angiosarcoma in children

OBJECTIVES

Liver hemangiomas are vascular tumors, which occur in the first months of life and carry risks of initial complications, but are considered to be benign histologically and to regress with time. Histologic studies suggest that a subtype, type 2 hemangioendothelioma, is akin to angiosarcoma and may have a severe long-term prognosis. We report 5 girls with type 2 hemangioendothelioma of the liver.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Three children initially presented with classical infantile multinodular hemangioma, including cardiac and pulmonary complications and regression of tumors at age 1½ to 2½ years. All 3 experienced tumor relapse at ages 2½ to 3, leading to death at ages 2½ to 5. Tumor histology showed type 2 hemangioendothelioma. The other 2 children presented with liver tumors at ages 2 and 3 years. In 1, initial biopsy of a single tumor showed benign type 1 hemangioendothelioma, but surgical resection was followed by relapse in the remaining liver, lung metastases, and death. Whole tumor histology showed both type 1 and 2 lesions. In the other child, tumor biopsy showed type 2 lesions. She underwent liver transplantation and is alive without tumor recurrence 3 years later.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful follow-up is necessary to detect late recurrence in infants with multinodular liver hemangiomas. Vascular liver tumors occurring after infancy are likely to be malignant. The high risk of relapse in the remaining liver suggests that if no metastases are detected, liver transplantation is preferable to surgical tumor resection in both situations.

Lymphangiosarcoma complicating extensive congenital mixed vascular malformations

Pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma is a very rare malignant vascular tumor. A few cases have shown pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma occurring on a background of preexisting vascular lesions. We report the case of a newborn girl who presented extensive limbs and upper trunk cutaneous mixed vascular malformations at birth. These malformations were associated with thrombocytopenia. Cutaneous biopsies revealed complex vascular malformations with a significant lymphatic component. Compressive body suit therapy led to regression of the limbs' cutaneous vascular malformations. At the age of 9 months, the patient presented multiple heterogeneous hepatosplenic nodules. Aggressive treatment with prednisone, vincristine, and hepatosplenic embolizations resulted in initial improvement of the hepatosplenic lesions for few months, followed by an increase of the lesions with failure of response to treatment despite adding alpha-interferon-2b to treatment. The patient died at the age of 19 months. The autopsy's pathological examination revealed a hepatic-based angiosarcoma with plurimetastatic dissemination to the spleen, lungs, peritoneum, pleura, mesenteric linings as well as the serosa of the stomach and small intestine. Multiple cutaneous and visceral complex capillaro-lymphatico-venous malformations were also identified. We hypothesize that these multiple extensive mixed vascular malformations were associated with chronic lymphedema which probably predisposed to the development of the angiosarcoma in our patient.

Hepatic hemangioendothelioma presenting as sudden unexpected death in infancy: a case report

The classification of an unexpected infant death as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) depends upon a complete autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of medical history to exclude known causes of death. Death from occult neoplastic disease in infancy is extremely rare but is within the broad differential diagnosis of SIDS. We report the sudden and unexpected death of a 1-month-old infant from a hepatic (infantile) hemangioendothelioma. The physiologic mechanism of death was likely cardiac failure induced by the circulatory demands of this large vascular tumor and respiratory compromise from diaphragmatic thoracic incursion. The clinical progression and pathology of these relatively common tumors of infant livers are extremely variable. This case dramatically illustrates the potential for fatal outcome of this tumor, as well as the need for autopsy to determine the cause of sudden and unexpected death in an infant.

Infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma: A clinicopathologic study in a Chinese population

AIM: To investigate whether the clinicopathologic features of infantile hemangioendothelioma (IHE) of the liver in a Chinese population are similar to the features observed in other races.

METHODS: The clinical data, radiological findings, histopathological changes and outcome of 12 cases of IHE diagnosed by the Department of Pathology, West China Hospital over the last 10 years were analyzed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical studies were carried out using antibodies against CD31, CD34, Factor VIII, cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18.

RESULTS: The 12 patients were aged from fetal to 5 years (three males and nine females). The tumor was presented with different clinical manifestations, mainly as an asymptomatic, palpable, upper abdominal mass, except for the two fetuses who were detected antenatally by ultrasound. In one patient, this presentation was accompanied by an initial severe pneumothorax. No symptoms of congestive heart failure were present and neither congenital abnormalities nor vascular tumors in the skin or other organs were found. Laboratory abnormalities included leukocytosis (40%), anemia (60%), thrombocytosis (60%), hyperbilirubinemia (16.7%), abnormal liver function (50%) and increased α-fetoprotein (80%). Based on radiological findings and gross specimens, the tumor presented as a solitary lesion or a multifocal space-occupying lesion. The tumor size ranged from 5.0 cm × 3.5 cm × 2.0 cm to 13.8 cm × 9.0 cm × 7.7 cm, and the 0.2-1.1 cm nodules were diffusely distributed within the multifocal tumor. Seven cases were surgically resected, three cases underwent biopsy and the two fetuses were aborted. Histologically, nine cases were classified as type I and three as type II, presenting aggressive morphologic features, immature vessels, active mitosis and necrosis. An inflammatory component, predominantly eosinophilic granulocytes, sometimes obscured the nature of the tumor. Ten patients are alive after a follow-up of 1-9 years. Based on immunohistochemistry, the endothelial cells in all cases were positive for CD31, CD34 and polyclonal factor VIII antigen, whereas the scattered hyperplasia bile ducts were positive for cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18.

CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestations of IHE are non-specific. There is no significant correlation between histological type and prognosis. The clinicopathologic features of IHE in Chinese patients may provide a clue to further evidence-based studies.

Neonatal fulminant type 2 infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma involving skin, viscera and soft tissue

We present the fulminant case of a neonate whose symptoms, lesions, imaging, and laboratory tests perfectly simulated a neonatal neuroblastoma and the definitive diagnosis was finally given by necropsy as follows: Infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma type 2 with extrahepatic extension affecting skin, lung, intestine, suprarenal, and soft tissue.

Neonates with severe infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma: limitations of liver transplantation

IHHE as the most common vascular tumor of the liver in infancy can present with acute postnatal liver and congestive heart failure. LTx may be a lifesaving option, but can be complicated by extrahepatic involvement and bleeding complications, especially in neonates. Here we discuss the benefit of LTx in cases of acute postnatal deterioration and massive extent of the hepatic tumor. Three infants with IHHE were transplanted at our institution between 2005 and 2007. Two were neonates with acute postnatal decompensation and progressive liver and heart failure within days. Treatment with steroids and chemotherapy was ineffective; resection surgery and interventional treatment were not considered appropriate. LTx was performed at the age of 7 and 24 days, respectively. An additional infant with a bilobar tumor that evolved more slowly was transplanted on day-of-life 56. Patients 1 and 2 had to be resuscitated during the LTx procedure because of massive bleeding and both died during the procedure. Patient 3 had a complicated post-operative course but is doing well one-yr post-LTx. Neonates with extended hepatic and extrahepatic involvement of IHHE should be evaluated carefully prior to LTx. Whenever possible, alternative interventional treatment options should be considered.

Imaging of paediatric liver tumours with pathological correlation

Paediatric hepatic tumours are relatively rare with malignant lesions being twice as frequent as benign neoplasms and are mostly metastases. Imaging has a significant role in the evaluation of most paediatric liver tumours. Differentiating benign from malignant tumours is important as it significantly affects treatment decisions. We present the characteristic radiological and pathological features of the most common paediatric liver tumours.

Infantile hemangioendothelioma: A case report and discussion

Infantile hepatic hamangioendothelioma type II is similar to angiosarcoma in terms of histomorphology and behavior. Various presentations of this lesion have been reported in the literature, e.g. cases with a hepatic mass, cutaneous hemangiomas, heart failure, etc. We report on a patient, male/2 years, who had two jejunal masses and a hepatic mass accompanied by lower GI bleeding and intestinal obstruction. The two jejunal masses and the hepatic lesion were diagnosed as angiosarcoma histomorphologically (IHHE type II), and were positive for vascular markers (CD31 and CD34) on immunohistochemistry. The patient had no skin lesions. We report this case and provide a literature review because of the unusual presentation and the overall rarity of this entity.

Angiosarcomas arising in the viscera and soft tissue of children and young adults: a clinicopathologic study of 15 cases

Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that predominantly affect adult and elderly patients and pursue an aggressive clinical course with high mortality. Although angiosarcomas are well described in a variety of clinical settings, they have been incompletely characterized. We identified 15 high-grade angiosarcomas arising from the viscera and soft tissue of patients 21 years old and younger from institutional and consultation files. Both clinical (patient age, tumor site, tumor size, tumor focality) and histologic features including growth pattern (vasoformative vs. solid), nuclear grade (high vs. low), mitotic rate (mitotic figures/10 high-power fields), necrosis (present vs. absent), and cell shape (epithelioid vs. nonepithelioid) were assessed. Tumors arose in both sexes (8 males; 7 females); age at diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 19 years (mean, 10 y, 5 mo; median, 11 y). Tumors were located in the mediastinum (7), visceral organs (2 in liver, 1 in spleen), breast (2), mesentery (1), pelvis (1), and deep soft tissue of upper extremity (1). Tumor size was documented for 8 patients (range 3.5 to 13 cm; mean 8.1 cm). Eight cases showed epithelioid morphology and 7 cases were primarily spindled. Of 8 cases assessed for podoplanin expression by immunohistochemistry, 7 were negative and 1 was positive. Clinical follow-up was obtained for all patients: 10 (67%) died of disease (range, 27 mo to 11 y; mean, 6 y 8 mo) and 4 patients were alive without disease (range, 27 to 132 mo; mean, 79 mo). Although extremely rare, angiosarcomas do affect children and young adults and this diagnosis should be considered in atypical vascular tumors occurring in the mediastinum and those with brisk mitotic activity and/or necrosis.

The role of the hematologist/oncologist in the care of patients with vascular anomalies

Pediatric hematologist/oncologists have a critical role in the diagnosis and management of patients who have complex vascular anomalies. They provide the clinical and medical skills needed to diagnose, treat, and manage these patients. Hematologist/oncologists also provide support for clinical trials and drug development to further treatment options for these patients.

Overexpression of Notch1 ectodomain in myeloid cells induces vascular malformations through a paracrine pathway

We previously reported that truncation of Notch1 (N1) by provirus insertion leads to overexpression of both the intracellular (N1(IC)) and the extracellular (N1(EC)) domains. We produced transgenic (Tg) mice expressing N1(EC) in T cells and in cells of the myeloid lineage under the regulation of the CD4 gene. These CD4C/N1(EC) Tg mice developed vascular disease, predominantly in the liver: superficial distorted vessels, cavernae, lower branching of parenchymal vessels, capillarized sinusoids, and aberrant smooth muscle/endothelial cell topography. The disease developed in lethally irradiated normal mice transplanted with Tg bone marrow or fetal liver cells as well as in Rag-/- Tg mice. In nude mice transplanted with fetal liver cells from (ROSA26 x CD4C/N1(EC)) F1 Tg mice, abnormal vessels were of recipient origin. Transplantation of Tg peritoneal macrophages into normal recipients also induced abnormal vessels. These Tg macrophages showed impaired functions, and their conditioned medium inhibited the proliferation of liver sinusoid endothelial cells in vitro. The Egr-1 gene and some of its targets (Jag1, FIII, FXIII-A, MCP-1, and MCP-5), previously implicated in hemangioma or vascular malformations, were overexpressed in Tg macrophages. These results show that myeloid cells can be reprogrammed by N1(EC) to induce vascular malformations through a paracrine pathway.