Surgical Resection for Extensive Pleural Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

Rare cancer with primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma diagnosed by thoracoscopic biopsy achieving disease control after 16 months: case report and literature review

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare malignant vascular tumor whose pleural EHE (pEHE) type is even more uncommon, with significant heterogeneity in the clinical behavior as well as challenging diagnosis and treatment decisions. Herein, we present a 74-year-old woman admitted to the hospital with dyspnea, pleural effusion, and refractory euvolemic hyponatremia. Chest computed tomography revealed a large right-side pleural effusion with irregular thickening of the parietal pleura and localized nodularity. Histologic evaluation of the thoracoscopic pleural biopsy tissue was used to confirm the diagnosis of pEHE. Assessment of the volume status suggested that the hyponatremia was attributable to a paraneoplastic endocrine syndrome. Administration of the multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor pazopanib helped achieve disease control, with the patient remaining free of symptoms after 16 months of follow-up. This case report adds to the knowledge base of this exceptionally rare condition, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach.

Pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in a 39-Year-old female: a case report

BACKGROUND

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare malignancy of vascular origin which can be primarily be seen in various tissues. EHE originating from the pleura is an even more uncommon subtype which may mimic mesothelioma and pleural carcinomatosis. The prognosis of pleural EHE is poor and there is no consensus on the optimal therapeutic approach.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 39-year-old middle-eastern female presented with progressive dyspnea and left shoulder discomfort. Chest computed tomography scan revealed a left side pleural effusion and pleural thickening. Pleuroscopy was done and biopsies were taken which were positive for CD31, CD34, CK, factor 8-R-antigen, and vimentin. Patient was diagnosed with pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEHE) and chemotherapy was started and underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy 7 months later. Unfortunately, the patient passed away 10 months after diagnosis due to disease complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Once PEHE is suspected in histology it can be confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Chemotherapy, surgery or a combination of both is currently used as the treatment but the standard treatment remains a question.

Poor response to sintilimab plus chemotherapy in a pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma patient: a case report

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare vascular tumor with no established treatment protocol. The authors report the case of a young woman diagnosed with PEH. DNA and RNA analysis by next-generation sequencing was performed on the tumor tissue. A novel germline PALB2 mutation and classical WWTR1-CAMTA1 fusion were identified. She experienced a poor response to sintilimab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus platinum-based chemotherapy as the first-line treatment. PEH patients harboring a germline PALB2 mutation and WWTR1-CAMTA1 gene fusion may respond poorly to treatment with PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy.