Infiltrating angiolipoma or intramuscular hemangioma? A report of five cases

Intramuscular capillary-type hemangioma: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. A French multicentric retrospective study of 66 cases

PURPOSE

Intramuscular capillary-type hemangiomas (ICTHs) are rare entities, belonging to the group of intramuscular "hemangiomas." The diagnosis remains challenging. We aimed to assess the diagnostic criteria, treatments and outcomes of ICTHs.

METHODS

This retrospective study collected all cases of ICTH followed up in 9 French hospital centers, reviewed by an adjudication expert group.

RESULTS

Among 133 patients screened, 66 with ICTH were included. The median age of patients at diagnosis was 28.0 years, interquartile range (21.0---36.0). The lesion, mainly presenting as a gradually increasing mass (83.9%), was painless (88.9%) and was located in the head and neck (42.4%). MRI (available in all cases) mainly revealed a well-delineated lesion, isointense to the muscle on T1-weighted images, with enhancement after contrast injection; hyperintense on T2-weighted images; and containing flow voids. Among the 66 cases, 59 exhibited typical ICTH features and 7 shared some imaging features with arteriovenous malformations. These latter were larger than typical ICTHs and more painful and appeared on imaging as less well delimited and more heterogeneous tissue masses, with larger tortuous afferent arteries, earlier draining vein opacification and mild arteriovenous shunting. We propose to name these lesions arteriovenous malformation (AVM)-like ICTH. Pathological reports were similar in typical and AVM-like ICTH, showing capillary proliferation with mainly small-size vessels, negative for GLUT-1 and positive for ERG, AML, CD31 and CD34, with low Ki67 proliferation index (<10%), and adipose tissue. The most frequent treatment for ICTH was complete surgical resection (17/47, 36.2%), preceded in some cases by embolization, which led to complete remission.

CONCLUSIONS

ICTH can be diagnosed on MRI when it is typical. Biopsy or angiography are required for atypical forms.

Recurrent Intramuscular Hemangioma (Infiltrating Angiolipoma) of the Lower Lip: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of a recurrent intramuscular hemangioma (IMH) of the lower lip of a 68-year-old female and review the published literature to provide an overview of the presentation, diagnostic strategy, pathological classification, and management of these lesions within the oral cavity.

METHODS

A case report was conducted by reviewing the documentation at a single institution. A systematic literature review on OVID MEDLINE and PubMed was performed using the MESH terms "intramuscular hemangioma" and "oral cavity," "tongue," "cheek," "buccal," "gingiva," and "lip."

RESULTS

A 62-year-old female presented to our institution with a 2 × 2 × 1 cm IMH of the lower lip involving the surrounding orbicularis oris muscle. She underwent a submucosal resection and did well postoperatively. Six and a half years later, she represented to our institution with a new lower lip lesion in the area of her previous resection. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed a new 10 × 11 mm lesion with a well circumscribed central component surrounded by ill-defined tissue. Preoperative angiography showed that the lesion was supplied by vessels branching off the left facial artery, which were embolized. She underwent wide-local excision (WLE) with bilateral advancement flaps and at her 2-month postoperative visit has not had recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Only 39 cases of IMH in the oral cavity have been reported, with only 3 others occurring in the lower lip. Here we add the first case of an IMH of the oral cavity that recurred after primary WLE. The patient was successfully retreated with WLE. At a 3-month follow-up visit, she noted some incompetence with oral secretions and occasional tingling along the incision site but no evidence of recurrence.

Intramuscular (Subfascial) Vascular Spindle Cell Lipoma. A Case Report

Spindle cell lipoma is a distinct type of lipoma characterized by replacement of mature fat by collagen forming spindle cells. It is a benign lesion occurring chiefly in males older than 45 years and affects the subcutaneous tissues in the regions of the shoulder and posterior neck. Deep-seated (intramuscular) spindle cell lipomas are probably uncommon tumors and to date only two cases have been reported in the literature. A new case of a vascular variant of spindle cell lipoma in an intramuscular (subfascial) location is presented and the differential diagnosis is discussed.

Sonographic Differentiation Between Angiolipomas and Superficial Lipomas

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to compare the sonographic findings of angio lipomas with those of superficial lipomas.

METHODS

Preoperative sonograms of 26 angiolipomas from 18 patients and 47 superficial lipomas from 43 patients that were confirmed by biopsy were reviewed retrospectively. The echo texture, echogenicity, internal echogenic stranding, vascularity, visualization of lateral and superficial-deep tumor capsules, shape, and tumor length, width, and length-to-width ratio were evaluated and compared between angiolipomas and superficial lipomas.

RESULTS

Angiolipomas frequently appeared as heterogeneous (19 of 26 [73.1%]), hyperechoic (23 of 26 [88.5%]), and ovoid (17 of 26 [65.4%]) masses with lesser visualized lateral tumor capsules (6 of 26 [23.1%]), whereas superficial lipomas appeared as homogeneous (36 of 47 [76.6%]), isoechoic (35 of 47 [74.5%]), and spindle-shaped (23 of 47 [48.9%]) masses with well-visualized lateral capsules (33 of 47 [70.2%]), and the differences were statistically significant (P < .001). Vascularity was seen in 4 angiolipomas (16.7%) and in no superficial lipomas (0%). The mean length and width ± SD of angiolipomas (2.2 ± 1.02 and 0.6 ± 0.27 cm, respectively) were smaller than those of superficial lipomas (4.2 ± 1.52 and 1.1 ± 0.51 cm), with statistical significance (P< .001). The other sonographic findings did not reveal statistically significant differences between the tumor types.

CONCLUSIONS

Sonography might help differentiate angiolipomas from superficial lipomas.

Angiolipoma in head and neck: report of two cases and review of the literature

Angiolipomas are either encapsulated or non-encapsulated fatty tumours. They are distinguished from other lipomas by the excessive degree of vascular proliferation and because they are mixed with mature adipocytes. They commonly occur in the trunk and extremities and are rare in the maxillofacial area. Only 36 cases in the head and neck have been reported in the literature. The authors report the first non-infiltrating intramasseterine angiolipoma, and a case of non-infiltrating angiolipoma of the cheek. These tumours appear as homogenous low-density areas on CT with no contrast enhancement. MRI gives better tumour delineation and clear definition of the location and longitudinal extent of the mass. Histopathology demonstrates mature adipose tissue and the proliferation of numerous small branching blood vessels. Management of angiolipomas requires complete surgical excision.

Angiolipoma Presenting as a Nasal Mass: How Rare a Presentation?

Angiolipomas are benign adipose tumors. There are two types: infiltrating and noninfiltrating. An angiolipoma presenting as a nasal mass is rare. To our knowledge, this is only the second documented case of angiolipoma presenting in the nasal dorsum. Total surgical excision by an external rhinoplasty technique with close follow-up is advised. Recurrence is not common.

MRI appearances of common benign soft-tissue tumours

Benign soft-tissue tumours are many times more common than their malignant counterparts, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the technique of choice for imaging the lesions. This review illustrates the MRI appearances of the most common benign soft-tissue tumours, based on consecutive referrals to our institution. The imaging signs that are useful for diagnosis are described.

From the archives of the AFIP: benign musculoskeletal lipomatous lesions

Benign lipomatous lesions involving soft tissue are common musculoskeletal masses that are classified into nine distinct diagnoses: lipoma, lipomatosis, lipomatosis of nerve, lipoblastoma or lipoblastomatosis, angiolipoma, myolipoma of soft tissue, chondroid lipoma, spindle cell lipoma and pleomorphic lipoma, and hibernoma. Soft-tissue lipoma accounts for almost 50% of all soft-tissue tumors. Radiologic evaluation is diagnostic in up to 71% of cases. These lesions are identical to subcutaneous fat on computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images and may contain thin septa. Lipomatosis represents a diffuse overgrowth of mature fat affecting either subcutaneous tissue, muscle or nerve, and imaging is needed to evaluate lesion extent. Lipoblastoma is a tumor of immature fat occurring in young children, and imaging features may reveal a mixture of fat and nonadipose tissue. Angiolipoma, myolipoma, and chondroid lipoma are rare lipomatous lesions that are infrequently imaged. Spindle cell and pleomorphic lipoma appear as a subcutaneous lipomatous mass in the posterior neck or shoulder, with frequent nonadipose components. Hibernoma appears as a lipomatous mass with serpentine vascular elements. Benign lipomatous lesions affecting bone, joint, or tendon sheath include intraosseous lipoma, parosteal lipoma, liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor, discrete lipoma of joint or tendon sheath, and lipoma arborescens. Intraosseous and parosteal lipoma have a pathognomonic CT or MR appearance, with fat in the marrow space or on the bone surface, respectively. Liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor is a rare intermixed histologic lesion commonly located in the medullary canal of the intertrochanteric femur. Benign lipomatous lesions may occur focally in a joint or tendon sheath or with diffuse villonodular proliferation in the synovium (lipoma arborescens) and are diagnosed based on location and identification of fat. Understanding the spectrum of appearances of the various benign musculoskeletal lipomatous lesions improves radiologic assessment and is vital for optimal patient management.

Orbital intramuscular haemangioma

PURPOSE

To present the clinical and histopathological characteristics of an intramuscular haemangioma in the extraocular muscles.

METHODS

In 1989, an otherwise healthy 21-year-old female developed proptosis of the left eye. Clinical examination revealed a painless, non-compressible, retrobulbar lesion. No discoloration of skin or conjunctiva could be observed. The patient had no history of head injury. She underwent surgery three times over a period of 9 years, without reaching a diagnosis. The tumour increased slowly in size despite the operations and MR imaging suggested a tumour of angiomatous origin. Finally, radical surgery was performed with enucleation of the left eye and excision of affected extraocular muscles.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination of the removed orbital tumour showed a mixed type intramuscular haemangioma involving four extraocular muscles.

CONCLUSION

We report the first case of an intramuscular haemangioma of the orbit.

Intramuscular haemangioma of the anterior chest wall

Intramuscular haemangiomas of the chest wall are rare. We present the case of a 33-year-old man with an intramuscular haemangioma of the left side of the anterior chest wall located in the left sixth intercostal space. We resected the tumour and surrounding tissue. Histopathological examination of the tumour demonstrated an intramuscular haemangioma of small-vessel type. The patient has been free of recurrence for 5 years after surgery.

Hibernoma: MRI appearance of a rare tumor

We report the features of a hibernoma on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The MR characteristics of this lesion were consistent with a complex lipid-containing mass. The mass did not suppress on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging and was clearly not a simple lipoma. Hibernoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of complex fatty masses.

Intramuscular Haemangioma of the Forearm

Intramuscular haemangioma, though benign, may be a serious disorder, because its large size can cause functional impairment, pain and disfigurement, which may require surgical excision. These, as well as the baffling histopathological aspects, are exemplified by this report of an intramuscular haemangioma of the forearm in an adolescent girl. Clinical recognition of a cutaneous angioma overlying a deeply-situated soft tissue tumour may aid the diagnosis of an intramuscular haemangioma.

Infiltrating angiolipoma with phlebolith formation

Angiolipomas are uncommon benign soft tissue tumors with both fatty and vascular components; they may be encapsulated or locally invasive. Three cases are reported in which phleboliths were present within infiltrating angiolipomas. The demonstration of phleboliths in a lipoma suggests the diagnosis of infiltrating angiolipoma rather than the usual encapsulated lipoma.