Primary hepatic angiosarcoma: a clinical and pathological analysis / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, differential diagnosis, and prognosis of primary hepatic angiosarcoma, and to review the literature.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty cases of primary hepatic angiosarcoma were analyzed by gross examination and light microscopy. Immunostaining was performed to detect the expression of CD34, CD31, FVIIIRAg, CK, GPC-3, Hepatocyte,vimentin, PTEN, desmin, and CD117.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age of the patients ranged from 7 to 86 years. Eleven cases were male, and 9 were female. All cases showed no specific clinical manifestations and imaging results. Macroscopically, the tumors showed diffuse multi-nodular or single nodular patterns with hemorrhage. Microscopically, there were various patterns such as cavernous vascular space and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma-like appearances; however, specific pathological diagnostic features of angiosarcoma still existed in all cases. All of the cases expressed at least one of the three immunohistochemical markers CD31, CD34 and/or FVIIIRag. Ten cases had PTEN low expression. Ki-67 proliferative index was more than 10% in all cases. None of cases expressed desmin, CD117, GPC-3 or Hepatocyte.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Primary hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor. Detailed morphological observation and using various vascular endothelial immunohistochemical markers can help to establish the diagnosis accurately.</p>