A case of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma detected on medical checkup
A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of bilateral multiple nodular shadows detected on a medical checkup chest X-ray film. Video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy and hematoxylin eosin staining showed protrusion of the polypoid tumor tissue into the alveolar lumina, and the centers of nodules were occupied by hyalinized matrices. Immunohistochemical stain demonstrated that tumor cells were positive for factor VIII-related antigen, CD-34, and vimentin. The tumor was therefore diagnosed as pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH). PEH usually grows slowly. Standard therapy for PEH has not yet been established. We have followed the patient for 2 years without any treatment, but no symptoms have appeared.