Abstract

Background: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare tumour whose prognosis ranges from benign form similar to hemangioma to aggressive tumors like angiosarcoma. Its localization in the rib is very rare and less than 10 cases of costal localized forms have been reported in the literature. The authors describe another case of costal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma illustrated by microscopic findings.
Case presentation: We present the case of a 80-year-old man who reported a pain in the shoulder. Radiologic findings showed a hypervascularized tumour and microscopic findings diagnosed an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The treatment was the en-bloc resection of second to fourth posterior left ribs and the wedge resection of the left lung nodule and the patient didn’t present complications after a 6-year- follow-up period.
Conclusion: This case emphasizes on the challenging diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and the importance of surgical resection in localized forms.

Keywords: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; Surgery; Pathology; Rib; Elderly