Endovascular papillary angioendothelioma (Dabska tumor) in an elderly woman

Abstract

A patient with endovascular papillary angioendothelioma with a low grade of malignancy showing papillary proliferation of endothelioid cells is presented. The patient, an 83-year-old woman, underwent resection of a tumor of the neck. At operation a 9 x 7 cm cystic tumor containing yellow transparent liquid with clots was found in the subcutaneous tissue. Histological studies showed endothelioid cells with spindle-shaped nuclei proliferated in layers around the fibrovascular cores, which showed the characteristic appearance of papillary proliferation. These cells were immunohistochemically positive for CD31, CD34 and factor VIII-related antigen. Based on these observations, the tumor was considered to be an endovascular papillary angioendothelioma (Dabska tumor). Dabska tumor is a vascular tumor with a low grade of malignancy and usually occurs in infants and young children. About 13 cases of Dabska tumor have been reported. The occurrence of a Dabska tumor in an aged patient is considered to be rare.