Epithelioid angiomatous nodule of the nasal cavity

Abstract

Epithelioid angiomatous nodule (EAN) is a recently described cutaneous vascular lesion with epithelioid features. We report two additional cases occurring in an unusual location in the nasal cavity. The patients were two young adults (17 and 26 years) presenting with recurrent unilateral epistaxis. Computerized tomography scan and endoscopy revealed small tumors that had developed in the nasal septum and the turbinate, measuring 1 and 1.5 cm, respectively. Endoscopic resection was performed. No recurrence was observed in the follow-up. Pathological examination revealed a well-limited but unencapsulated nodule composed of large epithelioid cells with round nuclei. Some tumor cells contained intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Mitotic activity was low without necrotic areas. Tumor cells were strongly immunostained with antibodies to CD34 and CD31. The main differential diagnosis is an epithelioid hemangioma sharing many morphologic features with EAN. We report these cases to inform of a possibly unusual location of EAN.