Case: 154

Aggressive Hemangioma

Show  

History: 81 yo female with back pain.
Solution: Bone hemangiomas are benign, malformed vascular lesions that are commonly seen in the vertebral body. Hemangiomas are typically separated into capillary, cavernous and venous subtypes. These tumors are generally asymptomatic incidental findings, but rarely may be accompanied by symptoms and signs of spinal cord compression or due to extension of the lesion into the epidural space, or pain due to associated pathological compression fractures. On CT hemangiomas are low density lwith coarse trabeculae and a "spotted" appearance as seen in this case is typical. On MRI hemangiomas typically are bright on T1 and T2 weighted sequences and avidly enhance. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish from vertebral metastasis, and biopsy may be required in unusual cases

Questions

This disease process is generally:
  • Rapidly progressive
  • Asymptomatic
  • Indolent
  • Painful
  • Associated with radiculopathy
The next step for this patient is referral to an oncologist
False
the most likely diagnosis is:
Aggressive hemangioma