A clinical and pathological study of sclerosing hemangiomas of lung (report of 3 patients)

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features, histogenesis, benign or malignancy and differential diagnosis of sclerosing hemangiomas of lung (SHL). Methods: Three cases of SHL were reevaluated and were immunostained with a panel of antibodies including EMA, CK(AE-1/AE-3), vimentin, etc. Results: Three cases were female. Tumors were 3～4 cm in diameter solitary round or nearly round mass or nodule in lung. All cases showed the classic histological features with variable proportions of solid, papillary, hemorrhagic and sclerotic pattern. The tumors consisted of two predominant cell types: pale polygonal cells and cuboid or columnar cells. Both EMA and vimentin expressions were observed in the pale polygonal cells, CK only be seen in cuboid or columnar cells in the three cases. In only one case synaptophysin showed a few positive expressions in cuboid or columnar cells. Conclusions: SHL usually occur in female and is not easy to diagnosis clinically. It is suggested that SHL is an epithelial neoplasm derived from primitive respiratory epithelium. The immunohistochemical markers such as EMA, vimentin, CK are helpful for diagnosis.