Clinical research

Clinicopathological features of 12 cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

  • SUI Chengliang ,
  • SHEN Yanying ,
  • LIU Zebing
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  • Department of Pathology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
LIU Zebing, E-mail: zebing080@163.com.

Received date: 2024-10-12

  Accepted date: 2025-03-05

  Online published: 2025-07-14

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(82070207);“Two-hundred Talents” Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(20221807)

Abstract

Objective ·To investigate the clinical, pathological, and molecular genetic features and prognosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) patients. Methods ·Clinical and follow-up data of 12 EHE patients diagnosed at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September 2016 to December 2023 were collected. Tissue samples were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results ·Among the 12 patients, there were 3 males and 9 females, with a mean age of (47.17±11.15) years. Tumors were located in the liver (6 cases), lung (4 cases), mediastinum (1 case), and supraclavicular region (1 case). Nine patients were asymptomatic, while 3 presented with mild symptoms such as chest tightness and fatigue. CT imaging revealed that EHE patients with involvement of livers and lungs exhibited multiple nodules, and 2 cases had tumors in both organs. Patients with tumors in the supraclavicular region and mediastinum presented with solitary nodules. H-E staining demonstrated that tumor tissues were composed of epithelioid, dendritic, and intermediate cells, arranged in acinar, cord-like, or clustered patterns. Epithelioid cells had round vesicular nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, with some showing a signet-ring appearance and cytoplasmic vacuoles. The stroma contained a mucoid matrix. IHC staining revealed that mesenchymal endothelial markers, including vimentin, CD31, ETS transcription factor ERG, and factor Ⅷ-related antigen, were positive in the tumor tissues, while epithelial markers showed low positivity with weak staining. The Ki-67 indexes were also low. FISH analysis showed that 10 patients had a calmodulin-binding transcription activator 1 (CAMTA1) gene break, while 2 patients had a transcription factor E3 (TFE3) gene break. Of the 12 patients, 11 were followed up for 2 to 38 months, with a mean follow-up time of 21.7 months. Three patients achieved tumor-free survival, 6 were alive with tumors, 1 died 4 months after surgery, and 1 died of heart disease 24 months after surgery. Conclusion ·EHE has atypical clinical features, a tendency to recur, a and variable prognosis. Accurate diagnosis requires a combination of histopathology, IHC, and a molecular testing.

Cite this article

SUI Chengliang , SHEN Yanying , LIU Zebing . Clinicopathological features of 12 cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2025 , 45(7) : 892 -899 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2025.07.011

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