Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma: radiological, surgical and anatomopathological correlation
Hemangioendotelioma kaposiforme: correlação radiológica, cirúrgica e anatomopatológica

INTRODUCTION

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor that comprises a wide range of life-threatening superficial or infiltrative lesions. It has a prevalence of 0.91 cases per 100,000 children, being most common in the extremities. When it appears in the elderly, it has a greater malignancy chance and may develop angiosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma. When it occurs in children, it is benign^1-3. The other histological differential diagnoses of KHE include infantile hemangioma, congenital hemangioma, fusocellular hemangioma, verrucous malformation/hemangioma and Kaposi’s sarcoma¹.

The microscopy examination is characterized by confluent nodules of spindle-shaped neoplastic endothelial cells involving multiple planes of tissue that are positive for endothelial, lymphatic, and smooth muscle markers². The treatment approach for these tumors is variable, mainly because the cases are rare, can be infiltrative and located in an area of ​​difficult surgical resection, and can also be related to the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, characterized by an association of capillary hemangioma and thrombocytopenia, which can cause bleeding, petechiae, bruises, and spontaneous bruising^4,5. Spontaneous tumor involution is rare; the best treatment option is total excision. However, it is sometimes mutilating or unviable, and other treatment options, use of corticosteroids, vincristine, interferon, chemotherapy, embolization, propanolol, sclerotherapy, and radiotherapy have been described².

This article aims to describe the radiological correlation using resonance, surgical and anatomopathological findings in a rare case of a child with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.

CASE REPORT

Boy admitted at the age of five in the Orthopedics Service of Hospital Sarah, presenting a history of onset, at six months of age, of a tumor in the right plantar region, painless, with wine aspect without inflammatory signs. He underwent two surgical procedures for excision in another medical service, at the age of two, with recurrence after three months, and at the age of four, with recurrence afterward, having been diagnosed with plantar fibromatosis. When he was admitted to this hospital, he had tumor recurrence in the plantar region and difficulty to perform plantar support on the right and to wear shoes, due to local pain. He presented a hardened tumor with a scar aspect on physical examination, not painful on palpation, with an extension of about 5 cm in its largest diameter, located in the right plantar region (Figure 1). AP and lateral plantar radiography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion in the posterior plantar region measuring in the lateral-lateral direction, 3cm long x 2cm thick, respecting the plantar fascia and directed to the skin. He had a normal blood count, platelet count, and coagulogram, with no Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. A biopsy was indicated, whose report showed kaposiform cutaneous hemangioendothelioma. Marginal tumor excision was performed, maintaining the fascia and primary suture of the lesion measuring 3x2cm; he had a recurrence six months after the operation. It was decided to enlarge the lateral surgical margin, and in-depth by 2 cm, elliptical resection was performed, including skin, subcutaneous, muscular fascia up to the calcaneus, measuring 5x3x2cm.

Figure 1 - Skin lesion in the right plantar region at admission and after recurrence; (Right) MRI examination performed after relapse, showing amorphous, heterogeneous, iso/hypointense tissue in T1, T2, and STIR, extending deeply to the thickened plantar fascia plane with a slight interval measuring about 5.7mm at its largest anteroposterior axis, with the aforementioned amorphous tissue interposing. It stands out in the most superficial subcutaneous tissue, immediately before the surgical scar, an oval area with lobulated contours, isointense in T1, and slightly hyperintense in T2 / STIR that exhibited post-contrast enhancement. Measuring about 12.6mm in its longest anteroposterior axis, 3.46mm in its longest lateral-lateral axis, and 6.5mm without its longest craniocaudal axis, it suggested recurrence.

Figure 1 - Skin lesion in the right plantar region at admission and after recurrence; (Right) MRI examination performed after relapse, showing amorphous, heterogeneous, iso/hypointense tissue in T1, T2, and STIR, extending deeply to the thickened plantar fascia plane with a slight interval measuring about 5.7mm at its largest anteroposterior axis, with the aforementioned amorphous tissue interposing. It stands out in the most superficial subcutaneous tissue, immediately before the surgical scar, an oval area with lobulated contours, isointense in T1, and slightly hyperintense in T2 / STIR that exhibited post-contrast enhancement. Measuring about 12.6mm in its longest anteroposterior axis, 3.46mm in its longest lateral-lateral axis, and 6.5mm without its longest craniocaudal axis, it suggested recurrence.

The intraoperative freezing exam showed fibrotic tissue, but with no evidence of a tumor in the deep margin, with the excision of the plantar fascia, the calcaneus periosteum, and reconstruction with flap rotation of the medial pedicle plantar cavity measuring 6x4cm and skin grafting partial in the donor region in the midfoot, 4-0 monocryl suture and Brown dressing in the grafted area. The graft was removed with Blair’s knife from the medial portion of the homolateral thigh; the dressing was maintained for a week when total skin graft integration was observed. Rest with an elevated limb without load was instructed until complete flap and skin graft integration for two weeks; the flap’s satisfactory evolution with remission of pain was observed, without tumor recurrence in the 15-year follow-up (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - A. Transoperative: tumor resection with wide lateral margins and depth, dimensions of 5x3x3cm, up to the calcaneus. Marking and dissection of the flap of the plantar cavity with medial vascularization; B. Rotation of the flap measuring 6 cm to cover the calcaneus; Partial skin graft removal from the medial aspect of the homolateral thigh and distribution with skin graft and 4-0 monocryl suture; C. Dressing tied to the grafted area; D. Postoperative result after 12 years of follow-up.

Figure 2 - A. Transoperative: tumor resection with wide lateral margins and depth, dimensions of 5x3x3cm, up to the calcaneus. Marking and dissection of the flap of the plantar cavity with medial vascularization; B. Rotation of the flap measuring 6 cm to cover the calcaneus; Partial skin graft removal from the medial aspect of the homolateral thigh and distribution with skin graft and 4-0 monocryl suture; C. Dressing tied to the grafted area; D. Postoperative result after 12 years of follow-up.

The anatomopathological examination revealed vascular neoplasia with infiltrative lobes, separated by fibrous septa, containing compact, sometimes loose, fusocellular areas, in capillary permeate, cracks, and vessels varying sizes, covered by endothelium with a glomeruloid aspect, few figures of mitosis and free surgical margins. Tumor karyotype (45, XY, -10 (3) / 46, XY (21) with chromosome 10 monosomy (3 cells), normal clone (21 cells) culture time 8 days.

DISCUSSION

The natural history of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, the differential diagnosis, and treatment regime for these lesions remains unclear and challenges plastic surgeons’ challenges. The authors describe the report of a rare case of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma with a difficult diagnosis, which had previously been operated on and relapsed three times. He presented a fibromatous aspect on physical examination, leading to the clinical suspicion of plantar fibromatosis, which was not confirmed by imaging and biopsy exams. In a biopsy, histopathological findings, corroborating with the literature, were of confluent nodules of spindle-shaped neoplastic endothelial cells involving multiple tissue planes that were positive for smooth endothelial, lymphatic, and muscle markers; this was important for the definition of the diagnosis.

In the first surgery for excision, the oncological criteria were respected, preserving the fascia, following the NMR exam, which showed involvement in the deep dermis, deep, subcutaneous, and muscular tissues; however, these parameters were not sufficient for remission. of the tumor. After six months postoperatively, there was a recurrence, and a new surgical approach was performed, widening the lateral and deep margins, with the excision of the fascia and periosteum, achieving remission during 15 years of follow-up without important functional sequelae.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma tumor is a tumor of vascular origin according to the classification of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA), which covers all malformations and vascular tumors in an internationally consistent nomenclature framework. It is one of two systems of most used classification. It is based on Mulliken and Glowacki’s initial classification in 1982⁶ and has since been updated with the recognition of causal genetic mutations; this classification was revised in May 2018. Excision with a tumor-free surgical margin should be the definitive treatment for KHE, although it is unattainable in some cases due to the location, extent of the lesion, or association with coagulopathy. When associated with coagulopathy, it can have a mortality rate of around 20%. Thus, other treatment options are described, such as the use of corticosteroids, single or combined chemotherapy, laser, and radiotherapy^5-8.

Sirolimus®, also called rapamycin, is a drug used as an immunosuppressant. It is a macrocyclic lactone produced by organisms of the species Streptomyces hygroscopicus, a macrolide mTOR inhibitor with an antiangiogenic effect. It has been reported as a successful agent in treating refractory and complicated cases of KHE, reducing tumor, pain, and coagulopathy phenomena. However, there is no single defined protocol, and its use in children with vascular anomalies is limited. It was usually indicated when other alternatives failed.

The reconstruction of the plantar region, corroborating with other authors^9-12 and as presented in the case report, was a challenge due to the need to have the flap with sufficient dimensions to cover the defect and protect the calcaneus, to have skin similar to the region, low volume and sufficient sensitivity to prevent injuries, support load, avoid pain when walking and enable the use of shoes. Among the available options are the rotating plantar cavity’s local flaps, the medial plantar flap, the reverse sural flap, distance flaps, and free flaps^9-12. It was not possible to perform a skin graft due to bone exposure. In this case report, it was possible to cover a 5 cm defect in the largest axis located in the calcaneus region, using the plantar cavity flap and partial skin grafting in the donor area. The flap and skin graft showed good integration, which allowed for the functional recovery of the foot.

CONCLUSION

In this report of the case of a child with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, a rare vascular tumor, it was not possible to make a clinical diagnosis at admission. A biopsy and histopathological examination were necessary. In the NMR exam, diffuse heterogeneous enhancement was identified after contrast of the lesion involving the skin, from the subcutaneous tissue to the fascia. These limits were used for resection up to the fascia, but they were not sufficient for tumor control, and there was recurrence after six months. It was necessary to re-approach the resection of the fascia and periosteum to control the vascular lesion’s growth, which, although benign, has endothelial growth with an invasion of the skin, muscle, fascia to the periosteum. The exeresis was performed on the lateral margins and in-depth, up to the periosteum, and extensive reconstruction with the plantar cavity flap and partial skin grafting in the donor region, with no signs of recurrence after 15 years. We emphasize the surgeon’s importance to go beyond the margins delimited by NMR for the control of the disease.