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A case report of Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma; response with propranolol and steroids
Saurav Verma1, Ekta Dhamija2, Adarsh Barwad3
1Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B.R.A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma, a rare vascular tumor, can be effectively treated with propranolol and steroids. This case study shows a child with kaposiform haemangioendothelioma achieving excellent response and near-complete resolution with this treatment.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Oncology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare, locally aggressive vascular tumor typically affecting infants.
- KHE can involve skin, deep soft tissue, or bone, presenting diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old male presented with a swelling below the right knee and a characteristic violet skin lesion.
- Initial treatments including debridement and anti-tubercular therapy were ineffective.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via clinical presentation and histology, ruling out Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon.
Findings:
- Treatment with propranolol and steroids resulted in an excellent clinical response.
- Imaging at 5 months post-treatment showed near-complete resolution of the kaposiform haemangioendothelioma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of recognizing KHE's unique characteristics for timely diagnosis.
- Multimodality management, including propranolol and steroids, offers favorable outcomes for KHE, even after diagnostic delays.
- Highlights potential therapeutic options for challenging pediatric vascular tumors.
Background:
Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor and may involve skin, deep soft tissue or bone. It is a locally aggressive tumor usually seen in infants. Here we report a case of kaposiform hemagioendothelioma in a child who responded to propranolol and steroids.
Case Presentation:
A 3-year-old male child presented with a swelling below his right knee with characteristic violet skin lesion. There was no evidence of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. After no improvement with several attempts at debridement and anti-tubercular treatment; a diagnosis of Kaposiform Haemangioendothelioma was reached on the basis of overall clinical picture and histology. The child was treated with propranolol and steroids and had an excellent clinical response and a near complete resolution on imaging at 5 months.
Conclusions:
These cases are often misdiagnosed and despite a delay in diagnosis have good outcomes with appropriate multimodality management. This case highlights the unique and typical characteristics of kaposiform haemangioendothelioma.
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