Case Report

Cavernous Hemangioma in the Axillary Region Mimicking Malignant Neoplasia

Authors: Benedito Borges da Silva, MD, PhD, Cleicilene Gomes Pires, MD, João DeDeus Pereira-Filho, MD, Alesse Ribeiro dos Santos, MD, Pedro Vitor Lopes-Costa, MD

Abstract

Cavernous hemangiomas of the breast are rare and when present, are generally well defined. Their presentation in the axilla mimicking cancer is extremely rare. This report describes the case of a premenopausal woman with a cavernous hemangioma in the axillary region with clinical, mammographic, and sonographic characteristics strongly suggestive of malignancy. The definitive diagnosis was based on histological analysis of the lesion complemented by immunohistochemistry for the CD34 marker. Cavernous hemangioma in the axillary region is extremely rare and the possibility of its presentation in this location mimicking cancer should be considered.


Key Points


* Cavernous hemangiomas of the breast are rare and in the axillary region they are even rarer.


* The clinical diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma is complicated by the rarity of symptoms and of a macroscopically visible mass.


* The differential diagnosis between cavernous hemangioma and hemargiosarcoma type 1 may be difficult.


* The possibility of cavernous hemangiosarcoma in the axillary region mimicking cancer, though extremely rare, should be considered.

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