Generalized Multinucleate Cell Angiohistiocytoma
Jennifer A E Doane1, Kerri Purdy2, Sylvia Pasternak2
1Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Capital District Health Authority and Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS jaedoane@dal.ca.
Background:
There are less than 100 cases of multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma (MCA) currently reported in the literature. It occurs as a localized, asymptomatic, benign proliferation of the skin, characterized histologically by irregular multinucleate cells. Due to its novelty, the etiology of the disease and treatment options are still under investigation.
Objective:
To report a case of confirmed, generalized MCA along with a review of the literature on the histology, immunology, potential etiology, and treatment of MCA.
Observations:
The patient was a 41-year-old female with asymptomatic violaceous plaques found on the extensor arms, legs, and trunk. Histopathology revealed increased dilated vascularity and cellularity (composed of mononuclear histiocytes and a few angulated multinucleated giant cells) in the dermis.
Conclusions:
Overall, MCA is a poorly understood, distinct dermatologic phenomenon. Here we present a case of generalized MCA to further the understanding of this disease presentation.
