Hemangiosarcoma

Epidemiology

Hemangiosarcomas can arise from endothelial cells in almost any organ. The head and neck represent the most common sites for these tumors, and they are predominantly located in the scalp. This malignancy is found mainly in the older age group but is also reported in the pediatric age group. Males are more commonly affected, with a sex ratio of M:F of 4:1.

Clinical Findings

Most patients present with a mass. The lesions appear blue with a peripheral zone of erythema.

Pathology

Hemangiosarcomas can be classified into two groups. Low-grade malignancy shows better tumor differentiation, whereas the high-grade variety exhibits poorly or undifferentiated tumor tissues. High-grade tumors tend to show wide and deep tissue infiltration, and the adjacent bony structures may be eroded. Hemangiosarcomas show cervical nodal or pulmonary metastasis in about one third of patients.