J Lung Cancer.  2012 Dec;11(2):102-104. 10.6058/jlc.2012.11.2.102.

Solitary Capillary Hemangioma of the Lung: A Report of Two Cases

• Lee HW
• Ahn S
• Shim YM
• Choi YS
• Lee KS
• Han J

• KMID: 2199838
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6058/jlc.2012.11.2.102

Abstract

It has long been recognized that tumors of capillary vessels in the lung are extremely rare. While pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, which is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension, is relatively well known, there have been only a few reports of solitary capillary hemangioma (SCH) of the lung. Herein we report two cases of SCH. Both cases were first detected as a solitary nodule of the lung in chest computed tomography images. Both lesions were recognized as early lung cancer and surgical resections were performed. At low power view, one was not encapsulated but was well delineated from the non-neoplastic lung and the other was pseudo-capsulated. Both tumors consisted of uniform capillaries with cuboidal or flattened endothelial cells. There was no cytologic atypia. Endothelial cells were highlighted by CD31 stain. Awareness of this entity is important for pathologists for differential diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule.

Keyword

Lung; Hemangioma; Capillary; Solitary pulmonary nodule

MeSH Terms

Capillaries
Diagnosis, Differential
Endothelial Cells
Hemangioma
Hemangioma, Capillary
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Lung
Lung Neoplasms
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
Thorax

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) In the first case, chest computed tomography (CT) shows a small single nodular mass (arrow). (B) Wedge resected lung shows an ill-defined soft hemorrhagic mass (arrows). (C) The tumor is not encapsulated but well delineated from the non-neoplastic lung (arrows). (D, E) The tumor consists of uniform capillaries, with cuboidal or flattened endothelial cells. There is no cellular atypia or mitosis. (F) In the second case, chest CT shows a single nodular mass (arrow). (G) The tumor is round in shape and is pseudo-encapsulated (arrows). (H) The tumor consists of dilated capillaries. There is no cellular atypia or mitosis. (I) CD31 immunohistochemical stain highlights endothelial tumor cells (1:80, Dako, Glostrup, Denmark) (C and G, H&E, ×10; D, H&E, ×100; E and H, H&E, ×200; I, CD31, ×200).

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