Intraosseous composite hemangioendothelioma of the mandible: case report and literature review
Introduction
According to the ISSVA classification for vascular anomalies (2018), composite hemangioendothelioma (CHE) is defined as locally aggressive or borderline vascular tumors. Vascular tumors can be divided into three categories according to the degree of malignancy: benign tumors, locally aggressive or borderline tumors, malignant tumors. Locally aggressive or borderline tumors. Locally aggressive or borderline vascular tumors is a low-grade malignant tumor with metastatic potential which includes: kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, retiform hemangioendothelioma (RHE), papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma, Dabska tumor, CHE, pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma, polymorphous hemangioendothelioma, hemangioendothelioma not otherwise specified Kaposi sarcoma, and others (1).
Through the analysis of the existing literature reports, CHE mainly occurs in the dermis and subcutis of extremities, but rarely in bones (2). And it mainly occurs in young and middle-aged women, with a long course of illness and painless growth of tumors. It is easy to recur after surgical excision, but less metastasis occurs (3). Due to the rarity of CHE, it is difficult for general clinicians in maxillofacial surgery and pathology to diagnose the disease accurately, which leads to the inaccurate statistics of its incidence. Fifty-six cases of CHE have been reported in English literature since the definition of CHE was made clear in 2000.
As far as we know, CHE originating in the mandible ramus hasn’t been reported in the English literature before. In the present paper, we report a case of CHE in the ramus of mandible.
Case presentation
A 36-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital due to a mass grown on his left mandible ramus for approximately 10 months (Figure 1). The patient did not mention any noticeable symptoms related to the tumor. He had no personal or family history of significant diseases. On palpation, no lymph nodes of the neck region were palpable.
Through computed tomography and cone beam computed tomography, the cortex of the left mandibular body was eroded. In addition, the condyle contained a mass with an abnormal signal but mostly well-defined borders (Figure 2). The lesion was 31 mm × 26 mm with high density in the center and an arc shape in the border with heterogeneously increased density which suggests osteolytic changes. No reactive hyperplasia was observed in the surrounding bone.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the oral and maxillofacial region revealed an abnormal high signal intensity on a T2-weighted image beside the mandibular body with low signal intensity in the center of the lesion. The area also showed high signal intensity on enhanced T1-weighted MR images. The demarcation of the lesion was unclear (Figure 3). The lesion extensively occupied the left ramus of the mandibular body, causing displacement of the left masseter.
Based on the clinical findings and the imaging report, a biopsy was performed. Microscopically, we found three regions with different pathological features. Spindle-cell hemangioma-like areas (SHE-like areas): capillary dilatation was obvious, vascular endothelial cells were flat and spindle-shaped. Retiform hemangioendothelioma-like areas: The neoplasm is composed of elongated arborizing vessels arranged in anastomosing pattern, at high magnification, the tumor cells can be seen with abundant pale eosinophilic cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. Many tumor cells show obvious cytoplasmic vacuolation, which is characterized by the expression and differentiation of primitive blood vessels, similar to the changes of epithelioid cells (Figure 4).
Immunohistochemical stains of tumor cells were positive for CD31, CD34, and FLI-1 with scattered D2-40 positive foci (Figure 5), supporting a neoplasm of vascular origin. The expression of KI67 reached 50% in some regions and less than 10% in some regions. On the whole, Ki-67 immunostain revealed a 15% proliferative rate consistent with a tumor of malignant potential.
In view of the above characteristics, The final diagnosis is suggested tend to be CHE, which consists of SHE-like areas, RHE-like areas and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma-like areas (EHE-like areas). Thus, an extended local resection of the neoplasm in the left mandibular body and reconstruction using a vascularised ilium flap was performed. We followed up the patient for nearly 40 months and the patient did not relapse so far (Figure 6).
Discussion
In 1908, Mallory used the term hemangioendothelioma to include all proliferations that he believes to be the origin of vascular endothelial cells. Nowadays, HE is used to name those vascular neoplasms that show a borderline biological behavior. CHE is an uncommon vascular tumor which was first described in 2000 by Nayler et al., and 8 cases of a vascular tumour with varying combinations of benign, low-grade malignant, and malignant vascular components was reported (4).
After reviewing articles retrieved by search from PubMed up to march 2019, it seems that CHE is really rare and only 56 cases have been reported in the literature so far. According to the statistics of Stojsic et al. in 2014, 23 cases of cutaneous CHE from 2000 to 2014 (5). In 2017, Perry et al. had reported 11 cases (6). To supplement the data, we describe the remaining 22 cases in detail in the Table 1 and Table 2 (2,3,7-23). Whatever, there is no doubt that true incidence of these tumors has been underestimated.
Table 1
Author | Age (years)/sex | Site | lesion of bone | Radiological | Duration | Multifocal | Size, mm | Immunohistochemical | Histological components | Treatment | Recurrence (follow up) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CD31 | CD34 | KI-67 | Other | |||||||||||
Sakamoto | 40/M | Leg, sole | Navicular bone | CT: osteolytic lesion; MRI: high T2; FDG-PET: SUV: 3-16 | 6 mo | Y | 30 | (+) | NA | NA | NA | SHE + EHE | Wide resection + Reconstruction + Radiation | NSR (2.5 y) |
Reis-Filho |
23/F | Forearm, hand | Metacarpal bone | NA | Since the first month after birth | N | 130 | (+) | (+) | NA | factor VIII-related antigen (+) | RHE (80%), SHE (15%), CH (about 3%), EHE (about 2%), AS (less than 1%) | Wide resection | NSR (7 y) |
Dong |
56/M | Manubrium Sterni | Manubrium Sterni | Bone scan: a hot spot; MRI:high-T2, high-enhanced-T1; FDG/PET: SUVmax: 5.9 | 2 y | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Excision | NA |
Present | 36/M | Mandible | Mandible | CT: osteolytic lesion; MRI: high T2, high-enhanced-T1 | 10 mo | N | 31 | (+) | (+) | 15% | FLI-1(+), D2-40 (focal+) | SHE + EHE + RHE + CH | Wide resection + Reconstruction | NSR (40 mo) |
AS, angiosarcoma like-areas; CH, cavernous hemangioma like-areas; EMA, epithelial membrane antigen; EHE, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma like-areas; F, female; factor VIII, factor VIII-related antigen; FDG-PET, positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-D-glucose; high T2, high signal intensity on a T2-weighted image; high-enhanced-T1, high vascularity on enhanced T1-weighted MR images; FLI-1, friend leukemia virus integration-1; HHV8, human herpesvirus 8; KHE, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma like-areas; M, male; Mo, months; NA, not available; NSR, no sign of recurrence; RHE, retiform hemangioendothelioma like-areas; SUV, standardized uptake value; SCH, spindle cell hemangioendothelioma like-areas; SMA, smooth muscle actin; VIM, vimentin; W, weeks; Y, years; (+), positive; (−), negative.
Table 2
Published year | Author (ref) | Age/sex | Site | Duration | Multifocal | Size, mm | Histological components | Immunohistochemistry | Treatment | Recurrence (follow up) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CD31 | CD34 | Ki-67 | Other | ||||||||||
2017 | Rokni |
78/F | Left forehead, right |
18 mo | Y | 50 | EHE + AS | (+) | (+) | 8% | SMA(+) | Excision + chemotherapy | NA |
2016 | Bhat |
31/M | Upper back | 1 y | N | 15 | RHE + EHE | (+) | (+) | 0.1%–14.9% | D2-40(+), SMA, EMA, S-100, HHV8(−) | Wide excision | NSR (5 mo) |
2015 | Leen |
43/M | Submandibular area | 3 mo | N | 22 | SHE + RHE + EHE + AS | (+) | (focal +) | NA | D2-40(+), HHV8, AE1/AE3(−) | Wide excision | NSR (8 mo) |
2014 | Gok |
54/M | Paraspinal region | 2 y | N | 30 | KHE + RHE + AS + EHE | (+) | (focal +) | 10%–20% | HHV8, desmin, EMA (−) | Excision | NSR (1 y) |
2014 | Mahmoudizad |
68/M | Scalp | 6 mo | Y | 63 | SHE + EHE + RHE | (+) | (−) | 20% | D2-40, factor VIII, vimentin (focal +); desmin, AE1/3, S100, HHV8(−) | Radiotherapy | Tumor shrinkage |
2013 | McNab |
66/M | Knee | NA | Y | NA | KHE+AS | (+) | (+) | 0%–40% | CK8/18, AE1/3 (focal +); HHV8, EMA(−) | Taxol monotherapy | NA |
2013 | Zhang |
32/F | Kidney | 1 w | N | 26 | EHE (45%) + AS (50%) + SHE (5%) | (+) | (+) | Positive in AS area | Factor VIII-related antigen (weak +); SMA, cytokeratin, EMA, S-100 (−) | Wide excision | NSR (11 mo) |
2013 | Liau |
24/F | Scalp | Several mo | N | 15 | EHE + RHE + Dabska tumor + AS | (+) | NA | NA | FLI-1(+); cytokeratin (AE1/AE3)(−) | Wide excision | NSR (1 y) |
2012 | Chen |
46/F | Neck | 4 y | N | 48 | EHE (60%) + RHE (30%) + PHE (10%) | (+) | (+) | NA | VIM(+); cytokeratin-7, S-100(−) | Wide excision | NA |
2012 | Yoda |
67/F | Spleen | 4 mo | N | NA | SHE + CH + RHE + EHE | (+) | NA | NA | FLI-1(+) | Wide excision + chemotherapy | NA |
2011 | Tsai |
15/F | Hypopharynx | NA | N | 32 | SHE + AS | (+) | (+) | NA | FLI-1(+), HHV8, D2-40(−) | Excision | NSR (18 mo) |
49/F | Hypopharynx | NA | N | 24 | SHE + EHE + RHE | (+) | (+) | NA | FLI-1(+), D2-40 (focal +), HHV8(−) | Excision | NSR (10 mo) | ||
2009 | Cakir |
50/F | Mediastinum | 2 mo | N | 60 | RHE + EHE + KHE + SHE + AS + CH | (+) | NA | EHE (5–15%), SHE + RHE (<1%) | Factor VIII, VEGF(+) | Excision | NSR (13 mo) |
2008 | Fasolis |
38/M | Cheek mucosa | NA | N | 25 | EHE + RHE + AS | NA | NA | NA | NA | Wide excision | NSR (3 y) |
2007 | Fukunaga |
44/M | Mandibular vestibule | 4–6 mo | N | 13 | EHE + RHE | NA | NA | NA | NA | Excision | NSR (13 mo) |
2002 | Sapunar |
43/M | Toe | NA | N | 40 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Excision + radiotherapy | NA |
2000 | Nalyer |
70/M | Tongue | NA | N | NA | EHE + RHE + AS | NA | NA | NA | NA | Excision | YES (11 y) |
1986 | Silva |
52/F | Right inguinal lymph node | 3 mo | N | 30 | EHE + SHE | NA | NA | NA | factor VIII(+) | Excision | NSR (7.5 y) |
1989 | Zoltie |
62/F | Finger, hand | 40 y | Y | 10 | EHE + SHE | NA | NA | NA | NA | Excision | YES (2 y) |
AS, angiosarcoma like-areas; CH, cavernous hemangioma like-areas; EMA, epithelial membrane antigen; EHE, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma like-areas; F, female; factor VIII, factor VIII-related antigen; FLI-1, friend leukemia virus integration-1; HHV8, human herpesvirus 8; KHE, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma like-areas; M, male; Mo, months; NA, not available; NSR, no sign of recurrence; RHE, retiform hemangioendothelioma like-areas; SUV, standardized uptake value; SCH, spindle cell hemangioendothelioma like-areas; SMA, smooth muscle actin; VIM, vimentin; W, weeks; Y, years; (+), positive; (−), negative.
In the above cases, we conclude that CHE mainly occurs in the dermis and subcutaneous lesions of the limbs, and may grow and invade nearby bones. However, more and more reports have been made on other parts, including the oral cavity and kidneys and other internal organs, especially in the head and neck (4,14,16,17,20,21). CHE has a wide range of age of onset and a slight female preponderance (32/56). Since the majority of tumors show painless growth, most patients have relatively long tumor durations. From the previous cases, it was found that the tumor could be single or multiple lesions, ranging in size from 0.7 to 30 cm. It has a propensity to recur locally and the ability to metastasize. We have follow-up data of 40 cases after resection, with a local recurrence rate of 25% (10/40) and a latency of 4–10 years. A study in 2017 showed that CHE with neuroendocrine differentiation often involved deeper areas and exhibited more aggressive behavior than other cases of CHE (6). Because of its rarity, the best treatment for CHE is still controversial, but generally associated with local resection and surgical treatment, it has been shown that extensive resection may be due to the propensity for local recurrence, and is recommended with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to follow regional lymph node evaluation. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should also be considered if necessary, electron beam therapy has also been used to treat a composite HE of the nose (24). CHE is characterized by a combination of benign and malignant vascular proliferations. The prognosis of CHE depends on the single components and is therefore varying. Thus, it’s meaningful to specify the components of CHE and their proportions. The most common combination of components is RHE and EHE. Angiosarcoma-like areas are present in around half of CHE, and may be proportionally more common in congenital or childhood cases. However, the most common manifestation of angiosarcoma is painful injury, which easily invades adjacent soft tissues and nerves, so that it can be differentiated and diagnosed.
Immunohistochemically, tumor vascular endothelial markers CD31, CD34, von Willebrand factor (vWF), factor-VIII-related antigen were variably or focally expressed, while D2-40 was rarely expressed. HHV8, cell keratin, epithelial membrane antigen, S100 protein, desmin and smooth muscle actin is always negative in CHE. The Ki67 proliferation index is variable and generally low (less than 1% in RHE-like and SH-like areas, Less than 5–15% in the EHE-like areas), but higher locally (up to 50%) in the angiosarcoma-like areas.
From Table 1, it can be concluded that lesions of CHE shows osteolytic changes in computed tomography. On magnetic resonance imaging, the mass always showed heterogeneous signal hyperintensity along the external surface of the mandibular cortical plate on T2-weighted imaging. In our case, there are some certain extraordinary radiographic imaging in the lesion such as osteolytic changes, hardened border and internal bone crest (Figure 2). 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) findings in CHE also lead a diagnosis, in the case of manubrium sterni, the high 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake of tumor indicated its malignant potential (9).
Overall, Primary CHE in the bone is rare and there are only three cases has been reported. Two of them originating from skin of the extremities, and then invade nearby bones (8). Just one of them primary in the manubrium sterni (9). About the etiology of CHE, one theory is that CHE is often associated with underlying vascular abnormalities, and histologically often contain benign vascular components (25). As we know, hemangiomas are one kind of vascular abnormalities which rarely primary in bones. And comparing with long bone, hemangiomas occur more in the flat bone. Interestingly, previous scholars believe that CHE is more common in the long tubular bone. And our case also proves that (Table 1).
Due to the malignant nature of the tumor, it is easy to be too conservative to cause local recurrence, or too aggressive, causing unnecessary damage to sacrifice quality of life. With this case report and those in the literature, we hope to increase our knowledge of CHE and improve clinical diagnosis of similar case.
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful for research support from Professor Hongling Yin, the Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital and Professor Zhigang Yao, the Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University (CSU), China.
Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (81873717); and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2019JJ40508); and the Graduate Students Independently Explore Innovative Projects of Central South University (2019zzts787), China.
Footnote
Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://fomm.amegroups.org/article/view/10.21037/fomm.2020.04.01/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). Approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. The patient’s permission for publication was obtained.
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Cite this article as: Mao T, Xiong H, Li N, Su T. Intraosseous composite hemangioendothelioma of the mandible: case report and literature review. Front Oral Maxillofac Med 2020;2:7.