title: Tufted angioma (angioblastoma): case report and review of 41 cases in the Japanese literature.
abstract: We report a 53-year-old man with a 2-year history of a violaceous indurated plaque on the shoulder. Although angiosarcoma was clinically suspected, histological examination revealed numerous lobules ('tufts') with cleft-like vascular lumina throughout the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Tumour cells had no nuclear atypia and were positive for CD34, but almost negative for factor VIII-related antigen. These findings were compatible with a diagnosis of tufted angioma, or angioblastoma. We reviewed 41 cases reported in Japan and found that, although most patients presented during the first year of life (23/41), the condition does occur throughout childhood and adult life. Both sexes are affected equally and, contrary to some reports, it is unlikely that oestrogens have a pathogenic role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*