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Central nervous system metastases of a pulmonary
epitheloid haemangioendothelioma
Diaz R, Segura A, Calderero V, Cervera I, Aparicio J, Jorda MV, Pellin L
Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia,
Spain.
The case of a 55-yr-old male with a right pleural effusion and multiple
bilateral nodules is reported.
A diagnostic thoracothomy was necessary to obtain a definitive histological
diagnosis.
During the postoperative course, the subject's neurological condition
deteriorated and multiple cerebral mass lesions were discovered.
The pathological analysis of both lung and cerebral tumours revealed an atypical
endothelial cell proliferation; vascular immunohistochemical markers, such as
factor VIII and CD34, were strongly positive.
His general condition remained poor and the patient died 18 months after the
initial diagnosis.
The final diagnosis was pulmonary epitheloid haemangioendothelioma with
synchronous central nervous system dissemination, the first time the authors
believe that association has been reported.
Little is known of the prognosis and treatment of these tumours, due to their
rarity.
Negative prognostic factors appear to be the presence of symptoms, pleural
effusion or multifocal presentations.
Treatment should include surgical resection if possible; chemotherapy appears to
have little effect.
Watchful waiting is an acceptable option, especially in asymptomatic patients.
PMID: 15065842 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15065842
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