Research Information System
Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, vol.12, no.1, pp.64-68, 2001 (SCI-Expanded)
Hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon vascular tumor which usually develops in soft tissue. A 31 year old male with a 2 cm in diameter mass lesion in the liver was diagnosed as hemangioma by imaging techniques including ultrasound and computerized tomography. One year later, the patient was admitted to hospital for evaluation of abdominal distention, jaundice, and nodular hepatomegaly. Imaging techniques showed multiple, hypervascular tumors with areas of necrosis occupying the whole liver. Histopathology and cytology of the mass lesion were compatible with hemangiopericytoma and this diagnosis was confirmed after comprehensive assessment. In spite of high dose ifosfamide plus Mesna therapy the patient died within a short time. In conclusion, the diagnosis of liver hemangioma can be made on the basis of imaging techniques but, may occasionally be confused with malignant hypervascular tumors in the liver. Its diagnosis therefore requires histological confirmation if tumor size increases during follow-up.