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CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 57
| Issue : 5 | Page : 401-403 |
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| Epithelioid hemangioma (Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) in zosteriform distribution |
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Yuichi Kurihara1, Hiroyoshi Inoue2, Hiromaro Kiryu1, Masutaka Furue1
1 Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
2 Department of Dermatology, Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| Date of Web Publication | 3-Sep-2012 |
Correspondence Address:
Yuichi Kurihara
Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582
Japan
 Source of Support: This work was supported partly by grants from The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare and The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0019-5154.100501
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 Abstract | | |
Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) or angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is an uncommon benign disease. We report an unusual case of EH (ALHE) that arose on the lower back in a zosteriform array. The presence of the characteristic histological appearance of plump endothelial cells with hobnail-like protrusions led to the diagnosis of EH (ALHE). Histological examination of the lesion also revealed the existence of arteriovenous shunts, the possible factor contributing to the pathogenesis of EH (ALHE).
Keywords: AV shunt, epithelioid hemangioma, hobnail-like, zosteriform
How to cite this article:
Kurihara Y, Inoue H, Kiryu H, Furue M. Epithelioid hemangioma (Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) in zosteriform distribution. Indian J Dermatol 2012;57:401-3 |
How to cite this URL:
Kurihara Y, Inoue H, Kiryu H, Furue M. Epithelioid hemangioma (Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) in zosteriform distribution. Indian J Dermatol [serial online] 2012 [cited 2023 May 31];57:401-3. Available from: https://www.e-ijd.org/text.asp?2012/57/5/401/100501 |
What was known?
Epithelioid hemangioma (EH), also known as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a benign disease and AV shunt might be involved.
| Introduction | |  |
Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) was described originally in 1969 as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). [1] Lesions usually present as single or multiple red-brown papules or subcutaneous nodules with a predilection for the head and neck region. Involvement of the trunk is extremely rare and only nine cases of EH (ALHE) outside the head and neck region has been reported in the literature as of 2001. [2] We report an unusual case of EH (ALHE) that arose on the lower back in a zosteriform array.
| Case Report | | |
A 38-year-old male presented in September 2009 with asymptomatic brown papules and nodules on the lower back. He had initially noticed these lesions 3 years earlier and they had gradually extend around the primary lesions on the back. Physical examination revealed brown papules and nodules on the left side of the lower back, distributed in a zosteriform array [Figure 1]. The patient denied past history of herpes zoster, injury, topical application of any sort, or insect bite at this site. Surgery for a herniated intervertebral disc had been performed several years before.
Laboratory findings revealed no evident eosinophilia or elevation of immunoglobulin E levels. Skin biopsy revealed elongation of rete ridges, basal hyperpigmentation, a lymphocytic infiltrate with occasional eosinophils [Figure 2], and the presence of thick-walled vessels adjacent to venules in the lower portion of the dermis [Figure 3]. The vascular channels were lined by enlarged plump endothelial cells with an 'epithelioid' appearance and cytoplasmic vacuolation [Figure 4]. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the enlarged endothelial cells were positive for CD31, CD34, and factor VIII. The existence of the underlying arteriovenous shunt or hemangioma had not been identified on the follow-up MRI done after his surgery for herniated intervertebral disk. Diagnosis of EH (ALHE) was made based on the histological findings. Treatment with topical steroid application for 1 year was not effective. | Figure 2: Lymphocytic infiltrate with a few eosinophils around the vessels (hematoxylin and eosin; ×200)
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 | Figure 3: Thick-walled vessels adjacent to venules in the lower portion of the dermis (hematoxylin and eosin; ×40)
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 | Figure 4: Vascular channels lined by plump endothelial cells with vacuolation and hobnail-like protrusions (hematoxylin and eosin; ×100)
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| Discussion | | |
ALHE is believed to be the most appropriate denotation because it is not confusing, is well established in the literature, and is a histopathologically adequate description. [3],[4] In this case, since the eosinophilic infiltration was too mild to diagnose definite ALHE, we prefer to use the term EH based on the histological findings-especially the protrusion of endothelial cells. Furthermore, EH better describes the possible neoplastic nature of the entity. [5]
The differential diagnosis of EH (ALHE) includes other vascular tumors and tumor-like conditions of blood vessels, such as angiosarcoma, cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule, bacillary angiomatosis, and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.
In our case, angiosarcoma was ruled out by the absence of conspicuous cytologic atypia, frequent mitotic figures, or piling up of cells. [6] Unlike cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule, the lesions were not composed of solid sheets of epithelioid endothelial cells. [6] The absence of bacilli, acute neutrophilic inflammation, and capillary proliferation typical of pyogenic granuloma ruled out bacillary angiomatosis. [6] Distinction from epithelioid hemangioendothelioma was made by the lesion's architecture and the presence of prominent inflammation and numerous well-formed blood vessels, with a lack of extravascular proliferation of epithelioid neoplastic cells. [6]
There is no consistently effective treatment for this disease and several therapeutic modalities, including intralesional and systemic corticosteroid, has been used with limited success. [7] The lesion can be managed by surgery but recurrences are common unless the arteriovenous shunt is also excised. [3] We did not perform any active treatment (i.e., either systemic corticosteroid administration or excision) because the patient lacked any disabling symptoms and he did not prefer such treatment.
Although the pathogenesis of ALHE is not fully understood, previous reports have suggested the involvement of arteriovenous shunts; these shunts are made up of clustered, thick-walled vessels adjacent to or communicating with venules or capillaries. [8] In the present case, the existence of the arteriovenous shunt was identified histologically. However, the imaging study did not reveal the vascular lesion.
Zosteriform EH (ALHE) is an uncommon manifestation. [9] In our case, the 'epithelioid' cells in the lesion showed the typical immunophenotype of endothelial cells. Although an obvious arteriovenous shunt was not identified beneath the lesion in the imaging study, the distribution of the lesion in this case was consistent with the area served by the histological aberrant vessels, the possible pathogenesis of EH (ALHE).
| References | | |
| 1. | Wells GC, Whimster IW. Subcutaneous angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. Br J Dermatol 1969;81:1-15. 
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| 2. | Wen SY. Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophlia in the shoulder. Int J Dermatol 2001;40:300-1.
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| 3. | Requena L, Sangueza OP. Cutaneous vascular proliferation. Part II. Hyperplasias and benign neoplasms. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:887-919.
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| 4. | Allen PW. Kimura/Kimm's disease and histiocytoid hemangiomas. Pathology 1989;21:155.
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| 5. | Fernandes BF, Al-Mujaini A, Petrogiannis-Haliotis T, Al-Kandari A, Arthurs B, Burnier MN Jr. Epithelioid hemangioma (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) of the orbit: A case report. J Med Case Reports 2007;1:30.
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| 6. | Elder DE. Lever's histopathology of the skin. 10 th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williamas and Wilkins; 2009. p. 1007-56.
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| 7. | Baghestani S, Firooz A, Ghazisaidi MR. A refractory case of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia successfully treated by surgery. J Dermatolog Treat 2011;22:49-51.
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| 8. | Olsen TG, Helwig EB. Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: Clinicopathologic study of 116 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985;12:781-96.
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| 9. | Dowlati B, Nabai H, Mehregan DR, Mehregan DA, Khaleel J. Zosteriform angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. J Dermatol 2002;29:178-9.
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What is new?
This is the first case report showing the presence of AV shunt histologically
in zosteriform EH.
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4] |
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