Expression of estrogen receptor in hemangioma of the uterine cervix: reports of three cases and review of the literature

A rare case report of cervical hemangioma and a comprehensive literature review of 137 cases of cervical and uterine hemangiomas

The cervix of the uterus is a rare site for cavernous hemangiomas. Cervical hemangiomas are slow-growing tumors with characteristic histological findings, including dilated vessels with increased endothelial cells. Although their pathophysiology remains unclear, hormones are believed to play an important role in the development of these vascular tumors. They may be asymptomatic due to their small size, but they can cause gynecological and obstetrical complications, including abnormal uterine bleeding and impaired fertility. Due to their small size, conservative treatment is the first line of management. Hysterectomy is considered for refractory cases or for patients who are not of childbearing age. In this study, firstly, we presented a case of a 60-year-old postmenopausal female without any gynecological-related signs or symptoms with a polypoid nodule hanging over the anterior cervical wall through its stalk. The surgical biopsy revealed no signs of neoplastic changes, with the only notable finding being a benign vascular lesion representing a cavernous hemangiomatous cervical polyp. The patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and she is currently healthy without any further abnormal findings. Additionally, we provided a comprehensive review of 137 cases in the literature since 1883, detailing their characteristics, signs and symptoms, and pathology.

Intramuscular cavernous malformation in the temporalis muscle: Diagnosis and treatment of a rare tumor in a rare site

In this case report we present a very rare case of intramuscular cavernous hemangioma in the temporalis muscle which was successfully managed with surgical excision with no evidence of recurrence in follow-up.

Cavernous haemangioma and mid trimester pregnancy loss leading to severe haemorrhage and hysterectomy: a case report and review of literature

Background

Cavernous haemangiomas are benign vascular tumours that are known to occasionally involve the female genital tract, including the uterus. They are often underdiagnosed during pregnancy, although they can also lead to severe postpartum or antepartum haemorrhage.

Objectives

Describe our case of an uncommon second-trimester pregnancy loss in a woman with a diffuse cavernous haemangioma of the uterus and cervix and review the wider literature.

Methods

The review was conducted using MEDLINE, Scopus and PubMed electronic databases from beginning of the database to May 2023, using the following keywords: arteriovenous malformation; cavernous haemangioma/hemangioma; uterine neoplasms; pregnancy complications; abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Main outcome measures

Description of the characteristics of cavernous haemangioma during pregnancy as well as diagnostic criteria and treatment options.

Results

Twenty publications were included in the review, which included English-language case reports over a period from 1959 to 2022. No pathognomonic symptoms for cavernous haemangioma of the uterus in a pregnant woman were noted. Complications including massive secondary postpartum haemorrhage, haemoperitoneum, and severe thrombocytopenia with anaemia after delivery were reported.

Conclusions

Diagnosis and management during pregnancy can be challenging and requires considerable attention, with a multidisciplinary approach including gynaecologists, radiologists, and pathologists to avoid major complications.

What is new?

An additional case of diffuse cavernous haemangioma of the uterus and cervix is described, that adds to the little existing literature.

Infantile/Capillary Hemangioma of the Uterine Corpus: A Rare Cause of Abnormal Genital Bleeding

BACKGROUND

Infantile hemangiomas are vascular anomalies. However, they rarely cause genital bleeding. Here, we present the case of a young female with an endocavitary hemangioma who presented with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

CASE

The patient was an 8-year-old female with genital bleeding. Transabdominal pelvic ultrasound showed a 20-mm highly vascularized focal intrauterine endocavitary lesion. Vascular computerized tomography excluded vascular anomalies. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a hemangioma. Minimally invasive open surgery was performed to remove the lesion. Subsequent pathology analyses confirmed an infantile/capillary hemangioma.

CONCLUSIONS

Infantile hemangiomas are vascular anomalies that should be considered potential causes of AUB in early puberty. The study of these cases should include pelvic ultrasound and vascular magnetic resonance imaging. Experienced surgeons can successfully accomplish fertility-sparing surgical procedures.

SUMMARY

We describe an unusual case of peripubertal AUB caused by an endocavitary capillary hemangioma. Management included fertility-sparing surgery and the complete resolution of symptoms.

CD133 Expression in Placenta Chorioangioma Presenting as a Giant Asymptomatic Mass

Background: Placental chorioangioma is the most common benign non-trophoblastic neoplasm of the placenta. Its clinical relevance lies in the size of the tumor since larger masses cause pregnancy complications, including an unfavorable neonatal outcome. Case presentation: We report the case of a 34-year-old second gravida and nullipara at the 35th week of gestation, admitted to the gynecological department for antibiotic-resistant fever. The cardiotocography performed during hospitalization showed an abnormal fetal pattern. A 2250 g newborn was delivered by cesarean section. No complications were observed during childbirth and postpartum was insignificant. On gross inspection a white fleshy intraparenchymal mass blooming on the maternal surface was noted; routinely stained sections revealed features consistent with chorioangioma with vascular channels lined by inconspicuous endothelial cells immunoreactive for CD31 and CD133. Focal expression of CD133 was also observed in placental villi. Discussion: CD133 expression indicated the presence of stem cells in chorioangioma, suggesting their possible role in the development of mesenchymal lesions including chorioangioma.

CIZ1 Expression Is Upregulated in Hemangioma of the Tongue

Hemangioma is a vascular neoplasm and one of the most common benign tumors. The pathogenesis of hemangioma has not been fully understood. CIZ1 (Cip1-interacting zinc finger protein 1) is a nuclear protein and the binding partner of p21. Dysregulation of CIZ1 expression has been reported in various types of cancerous tissues. In this study, we examined CIZ1 expression in hemangioma of the tongue and explored its function in vascular endothelial cells, the proliferative cell type in hemangioma. Immunohistochemistry showed that CIZ1 was highly expressed in hemangioma of the tongue while its expression is minimal in the normal tongue tissues. In vitro, knockdown of CIZ1 expression by shRNA transfection significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelium cells (HUVECs), suggesting a positive role of CIZ1 in endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Therefore, CIZ1 might involve in pathogenesis of hemangioma of the tongue by regulation of endothelial cell functions.

Estrogen is involved in hemangioma regression associated with mast cells

BACKGROUND

Estrogen plays a role in infantile hemangioma (IH) development, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to assess estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) localization and expression levels in IH. In addition, the unexpected relationship between mast cells (MCs) and estrogen in human IH was discussed.

METHODS

IH (n = 29), vascular malformation (VMs, n = 33) and normal skin (n = 15) specimens were assessed. IH was classified into proliferative (n = 9; age, 3.56 ± 1.01 months), early involuting (n = 10; age, 8.90 ± 2.69 months) and late involuting (n = 10; age, 20.10 ± 4.93 months) groups. Estradiol (E2), ER-a, ER-β, and tryptase (MC marker) levels were determined immunohistochemically and/or by double immunofluorescence staining. Quantification and localization of tryptase, ER-a, and E2 were assessed for each specimen.

RESULTS

ER-a, E2, and tryptase were expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of MCs in IH. The IH specimens showed significantly more tryptase, ER-a, and E2 positive MCs (30.6 ± 12.7, 9.7 ± 5.6, and 19.8 ± 8.7 cells/high-power field [HPF], respectively) compared with VM specimens (9.0 ± 9.8, 1.5 ± 2.4, and 2.5 ± 4.1 cells/HPF, respectively) and normal skin (6.1 ± 8.5, 0.5 ± 1.2, and 1.9 ± 3.4 cells/HPF, respectively). Proliferating IH displayed fewer E2 positive MCs (14.0 6.3 cells/HPF) compared with early (22.3 ± 10.2 cells/HPF, P = 0.023) and late (22.4 ± 6.8 cells/HPF, P = 0.006) involuting specimens. In addition, proliferating IH showed fewer tryptase positive MCs (24.7 ± 10.8 cells/HPF) compared with early involuting specimens (35.7 ± 15.3 cells/HPF, P = 0.043). All IH specimens were ER-a positive and ER-β negative.

CONCLUSIONS

E2 and ER-a are expressed on MCs and not on IH endothelial cells. Furthermore, activated MCs may be involved in IH regression.

Hemangiomas of the uterine cervix: Association with abnormal bleeding and pain in young women and hormone receptor expression. Report of four cases and review of the literature

Hemangiomas of the uterine cervix are rare with only about 55 cases reported in the literature. Increased awareness of this unusual cervical lesion can lead to early diagnosis and conservative therapeutic approaches. We present a series of four patients with cervical hemangioma with an extensive review of the existing literature on the subject. All four cervical hemangiomas were diagnosed incidentally in hysterectomy specimens performed for persistent menorrhagia or pain. The mean age at presentation was 34 years. The mean lesion size was 2.1cm and the dominant location was posterior cervix (3 cases). Immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone receptors showed expression of both markers in endothelial cells and stroma, the latter marker showing a stronger and more diffuse pattern. No other significant uterine abnormality was identified in two cases. The vast majority of cervical hemangiomas reported are in reproductive age women. In addition, these lesions express hormone receptors, indicating that their growth is at least in part due to sex hormone stimulation. Although most lesions are symptomatic (mostly bleeding), the diagnosis is frequently unsuspected. Cervical hemangiomas are benign with no recurrences or adverse outcomes reported to date. Conservative treatments are usually successful, and spontaneous remission has been observed. This entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly in patients of reproductive age with no other clinical and radiologic findings that would explain the symptoms.

Potential correlation between menopausal status and the clinical course of orbital cavernous hemangiomas

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical course of radiologically diagnosed orbital cavernous hemangiomas in the setting of presumed changes in estrogen/progesterone levels.

METHODS

An institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort chart review of patients from January 1, 1983, to January 1, 2013, was undertaken searching both outpatient ophthalmology diagnoses and radiologic diagnoses, identifying 32 orbital cavernous hemangiomas, which were subsequently divided into group 1, presumed to have stable levels of estrogen/progesterone, and group 2, presumed to have decreasing levels of estrogen/progesterone. Patients were then categorized as having short-term, mid-range, or long-term follow up. Serial imaging studies were evaluated and graded as having increased, decreased, or remained stable in size.

RESULTS

In group 1, no lesions decreased in size, 69% remained stable, and 31% increased in size. In group 2, no lesions increased in size, 45% remained stable, and 55% decreased in size. When evaluating only those patients with long-term follow up, many masses in group 1 increased in size, while the majority in group 2 decreased in size.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study evaluating orbital cavernous hemangiomas over a span of 30 years, the authors found that in postmenopausal women with assumed decreasing levels of circulating estrogen/progesterone, the vast majority of lesions either remained stable or decreased in size, suggesting the effect of hormone levels on such vascular lesions and supporting the role for observation in asymptomatic individuals in this patient population.

Cytochromes p450 and skin cancer: role of local endocrine pathways

Skin is the largest body organ forming a metabolically active barrier between external and internal environments. The metabolic barrier is composed of cytochromes P450 (CYPs) that regulate its homeostasis through activation or inactivation of biologically relevant molecules. In this review we focus our attention on local steroidogenic and secosteroidogenic systems in relation to skin cancer, e.g., prevention, attenuation of tumor progression and therapy. The local steroidogenic system is composed of locally expressed CYPs involved in local production of androgens, estrogens, gluco- and mineralo-corticosteroids from cholesterol (initiated by CYP11A1) or from steroid precursors delivered to the skin, and of their metabolism and/or inactivation. Cutaneous 7-hydroxylases (CYP7A1, CYP7B1 and CYP39) potentially can produce 7-hydroxy/oxy-steroids/sterols with modifying effects on local tumorigenesis. CYP11A1 also transforms 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC)→22(OH)7DHC→20,22(OH)2-7DHC→7-dehydropregnenolone, which can be further metabolized to other 5,7- steroidal dienes. These 5,7-dienal intermediates are converted by ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) into secosteroids which show pro-differentiation and anti-cancer properties. Finally, the skin is the site of activation of vitamin D3 through two alternative pathways. The classical one involves sequential hydroxylation at positions 25 and 1 to produce active 1,25(OH)2D3, which is further inactivated through hydroxylation at C24. The novel pathway is initiated by CYP11A1 with predominant production of 20(OH)D3 which is further metabolized to biologically active but non-calcemic D3-hydroxyderivatives. Classical and non-classical (novel) vitamin D analogs show pro-differentiation, anti-proliferative and anticancer properties. In addition, melatonin is metabolized by local CYPs. In conclusion cutaneously expressed CYPs have significant effects on skin physiology and pathology trough regulation of its chemical milieu.

Masson's vegetant hemangioendothelioma arising in the uterine cervix during pregnancy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Hemangioendothelioma is a rare benign intravascular tumor that can be confused with other vascular neoplasms. We report the first case of cervical vegetant intravascular hemangioendothelioma (Masson's tumor) arising in a pregnant woman.

CASE REPORT

A 40-year-old woman at 15 weeks' gestation developed a voluminous cervical mass and vaginal bleeding. We excised the lesion during pregnancy because of its rapid growth, bleeding, and severe pain. The pathological diagnosis was Masson's tumor or intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. The tumor showed strong estrogen and progesterone receptor expression.The patient underwent an elective cesarean section at term, giving birth to a healthy baby. Clinical follow-up at 3 years showed no complications or recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Obstetricians should be aware that Masson's tumor may occasionally arise in the uterine cervix during pregnancy. This benign vascular tumor may display a rapid growth because of the presence of sex steroid receptors. Differential diagnosis should consider a malignant vascular tumor, including Kaposi's sarcoma and angiosarcoma. Surgical removal should not be postponed because of pain and bleeding. Fetal and maternal outcomes were favorable.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma in the uterine cervix of a 5-year girl

The occurrence of the vascular tumors in the female genital tract, particularly in the uterine cervix, is extremely rare. This kind of tumor has mainly been reported as either cavernous hemangiomas or capillary hemangiomas. To date, no Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma has been reported in this site. Here we presented a case of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma without Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in the cervix of a 5-year-old girl.

Cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule of the chest wall with expression of estrogen receptor: a mimic of carcinoma and a potential diagnostic pitfall

Cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule (CEAN) is a rare vascular proliferation that develops on the trunk and extremities. The lesion arises over weeks to months and affects both sexes without age predilection. Histologically, CEAN is characterized by a circumscribed proliferation of epithelioid endothelial cells in the superficial dermis with a background of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. The epithelioid cells are positive for CD31, CD34 and/or D2-40. We report a case of CEAN that had remained stable for more than 30 years on the chest wall of a woman with a history of breast cancer. The lesional cells were epithelioid in appearance and positive for estrogen receptor (ER), raising suspicion for breast carcinoma. However, the cells were positive for CD31, CD34, D2-40 and EMA (epithelial membrane antigen); they were negative for cytokeratins, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CD1a, gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15), S-100, a melanocytic cocktail, HHV-8 and progesterone receptor. The histologic and immunohistochemical features, including a low proliferation index (10% by Ki-67), helped to distinguish this lesion from carcinoma and other vascular lesions. This is the most comprehensive immunohistochemical profile reported for CEAN to date and the first time that ER expression has been described.