Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Presenting as a Chest Wall Tumor

Abstract

We report a case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma presenting as a chest wall tumor. The patient had invasive bladder Carcinoma and a soft-density mass protruding into the left thoracic cavity from the lateral chest wall on a computed tomographic scan. Percutaneous needle biopsy was performed to obtain a definite diagnosis of the chest wall tumor. Because of an intrathoracic hemorrhage after the procedure, the patient underwent an emergency thoracotomy and excision of the mass with adjacent structures. Pathologic exmination demonstrated the mass to be a subpleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. This rare tumor has never been reported previously as arising from the chest wall.

Key words

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma - Chest wall tumor - Transthoracic needle biopsy - Hemorrhage