Epithelioid hemangioma of bone

Although no specific radiographic appearance has emerged to date for the epithelioid subtype of hemangioma, these lesions most typically exhibit well-defined osteolysis. Other relatively common features include surrounding sclerosis, cortical expansion and cortical destruction. We present a case of epithelioid hemangioma of the spine with an unusual radiological appearance which to our knowledge has not previously been reported: diffuse sclerosis of the involved vertebral body. The diffuse sclerosis seen in this case resembles the osteosclerotic process seen not only in benign entities such as subacute and chronic osteomyelitis, but also in malignant lesions such as osteoblastic metastatic disease and lymphoma.