IPERPLASIA PAPILLARE ENDOTELIALE INTRAVASCOLARE

A case of Intravascular Papillary Endothelial Hyperplasia (IPEH) of the soft tissue of the chest wall is reported. IPEH is a peculiar, benign, intravascular process that bears a remarkable resemblance to angiosarcoma. It must be differentiated from angiosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, intravenous atypical vascular proliferation, pyogenic granuloma, organized hematoma, etc. The most helpful features for the recognition and differential diagnosis of this form from the above mentioned malignant and benign vascular tumours of the skin and subcutaneous tissues are discussed. The authors have also evaluated some prognostic features about the tendency of IPEH to recur, although the benign nature of this process is fully understood. The histogenesis of IPEH is still debated: several authors suggest that this process is not a true neoplasm but a reactive lesion, particularly a peculiar variant of organizing thrombus.