Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the spinal cord. Description of a case with cytogenetic analysis.

A case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the cauda equina is reported. The patient presented with rapidly worsening low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a sharply demarcated intradural lumbar lesion. A bluish-red lesion, attached to the filum terminale, was removed. The patient is alive without evidence of recurrence 18 months after surgery. The tumor was composed of variously sized vessels lined by epithelioid endothelial cells with clear cytoplasm and centrally located, moderately atypical nuclei. These cells were immunoreactive for CD31 and factor VIII antibodies. Cytogenetic analysis disclosed two clones: 44-45X, - Y [cp3]/46XY[11]. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma may arise in several sites, the most common being soft tissues. It is a borderline tumor that may recur, may metastasize, and rarely causes death. The present case appears to be the first example of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the spinal cord.