Haemangiosarcoma of bone

Haemangiosarcoma of bone is a very rare primary tumour with a variable history and differing radiographic and histological appearances. In some cases the lesion has similar features to the so-called "adamantinoma of long bones" in which the histogenesis is also unknown. Such a lesion is described which occurred in the shaft of the right humerus of a 31-year-old man. Radiographically a centrally located area of osteolysis was seen without marginal sclerosis, but with erosion of the bony cortex. A biopsy was performed 16 months after the first radiographic examination and showed malignant tumour tissue which was difficult to classify histomorphologically. Several different neoplasms such as Ewing's sarcoma, myeloma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma or a bone metastasis were suggested. Finally, a haemangiosarcoma or so-called "adamantinoma of long bones" was considered. The tumour was completely removed by en-bloc resection. Careful histomorphological investigation of the tumour tissue by means of light microscopy, cytology and electronmicroscopy showed a vascular pattern characteristic of a haemangiosarcoma. Using cytophotometric DNA measurements of the tumour cells, the lesion could be classified as being of low-grade malignancy. This is confirmed since there has now been a 4-year follow up with no local recurrence or metastasis. There are many similarities between a well-differentiated haemangiosarcoma and an "adamantinoma of long bones". The differential diagnosis and the histogenesis of the latter lesion is discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)