Solitary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the metacarpal

Hakan Atalar; Mehmet Armangil; Nuket Üzüm; Yener Sağlık

doi:10.5606/ehc.2013.39

Hakan Atalar¹, Mehmet Armangil², Nuket Üzüm³, Yener Sağlık²

¹Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
²Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
³Mikropat Pathology Center, Ankara, Turkey

Keywords: Bone tumor; epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; metacarpal tumor.

Abstract

Hemangioendotheliomas are vascular tumors which have an intermediate clinical behavior between hemangiomas and angiosarcomas. The epithelioid subtype of hemangioendothelioma, which is rarely seen in bone, has the potential to metastasize and may be confused radiologically with benign or malignant lesions. A metacarpal origin of this tumor is extremely rare. In this article, we present a 42-yearold female case with an hemangioendothelioma in the second metacarpal which was initially managed as a benign lesion before the patient was referred to our center. The potential malignant nature of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma has been ill-defined. We recommend excision with a wide surgical margin. Amputation may be necessary to perform excision in bones such as the metacarpals or phalanges.