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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Plaquing of Herpes Simplex Viruses
Published on: November 5, 2021
Indurated purple plaques on the scalp
Joe K Tung, John B Korman, Mariko R Yasuda1
1Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. myasuda@mgh.harvard.edu.
Abstract:
Cutaneous epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare neoplasm of vascular endothelial cell origin that can mimic a cutaneous lymphoma, metastatic carcinoma, or Kaposi sarcoma. It is one of the most malignant cutaneous tumors and early diagnosis is essential, as the tumor metastasizes quickly. We describe a 75-year-old man who presented with three tender, indurated violaceous plaques on his scalp. Biopsy revealed a poorly circumscribed infiltrate extending into the subcutaneous fat, composed of atypical epithelioid cells lining vascular spaces. We provide a brief review of the clinical presentation, histopathologic features, differential diagnosis, and management of this rare tumor.

