Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in a patient with unusual involvement of the rib and intercostal lymph nodes

Abstract

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is an uncommon, well-differentiated endothelial vascular neoplasm with epithelioid or histiocytoid cells and a tendency to be multifocal. 1 Although most commonly found in soft tissues, EHE can potentially arise in any organ and pursues a clinical course intermediate between that of benign vascular tumors (hemangiomas) and frankly malignant tumors (angiosarcomas). EHE of the bone is extremely rare and occurs predominantly in male patients. It most frequently occurs during the second and third decades of life but has been described in patients ranging in age from 10 to 73 years. The lower extremities are most commonly involved. 3 We describe a case of EHE in a 33-year-old patient that uncommonly involved the ribs and the nearby intercostal lymph nodes.