Retiform hemangioendothelioma treated with conservative therapy: report of a case and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) is a locally aggressive vascular tumor. Wide surgical excision with tumor-free margins is the standard treatment strategy. However, surgical excision is not an option for lesions near critical anatomical structures, such as those on the face. We report the case of a patient with retiform hemangioendothelioma that responded to non-surgical treatments.


METHODS
We describe the case of a 72-year-old male patient with a retiform hemangioendothelioma on the face that responded to a combination of pulsed dye laser, local corticosteroid injection, and application of imiquimod cream. In addition, we reviewed past case reports of patients with retiform hemangioendothelioma.


RESULTS
Thirty-five cases that describe the management of RH, including the present case, have been reported. Review of the cases indicate a relatively low disease-free survival rate in cases that underwent surgical excision as the initial therapy for retiform hemangioendothelioma.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical excision might not be the best therapeutic option. Local control with conservative therapy is an acceptable strategy for lesions in anatomical regions including the face.
Department of Dermatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshimasa
Y
Nobeyama
Department of Dermatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yozo
Y
Ishiuji
Department of Dermatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hidemi
H
Nakagawa
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D000077271:Imiquimod