7.5 Vascular Tumors

Question 1

hemangioma:

• what is it
• what can it involve other than the skin?

Answer 1

• benign tumor of blood vessels
• Liver

Question 2

How to differentiate hemangioma from purpura?

Answer 2

• press down on the skin.
• if blanches, then it’s hemangioma b/c the blood is in vessels
• if no blanching, purpura b/c blood is stuck in skin

Question 3

angiosarcoma

• tumor of what cells?
• common sites? (3)

Answer 3

• malignant tumor of endothelial cells
• skin, breast, liver

Question 4

exposure to what substances is liver angiosarcoma associated with? (3)

Answer 4

1. PVC
2. arsenic
3. Thorotrast (radioactive contrast, not used anymore)

Question 5

Kaposi’s sarcoma

• what cells?
• associated with what infection?

Answer 5

• endothelial cell malignant proliferation
• HHV-8 (a herpes virus)

Question 6

Kaposi’s sarcoma

-clinical presentation

Answer 6

-purple patches, plaques, nodules. can involve visceral organs too

Question 7

Kaposi’s sarcoma

• classically seen in what patients? (3 categories)
• tx for each?

Answer 7

1. older eastern european males. limited to skin, do surgical removal
2. AIDS. tx is antiretroviral therapy to boost immune system
3. Transplant pts (immunosuppressed). decrease immunosuppression to boost immune system