Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in the thorax: Clinicopathologic, CT, PET, and prognostic features

Little is known about prognostic factors in epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). We aimed to identify prognostic factors among various clinicopathologic and imaging features of thoracic EHEs. Forty-two patients (male:female = 20:22; median age, 49 years) of EHEs with (n = 19) and without (n = 23) thoracic involvement were included. We reviewed electronic medical records for clinical information and computed tomography (CT) features for thoracic involvement. Differences in demographics and survival outcomes of patients with and without thoracic involvement were assessed. We also estimated overall survival. The most common pattern of thoracic involvement was multiple pulmonary nodules (n = 10), followed by parenchymal tumor with pleural invasion (n = 4), reticulonodular opacities (n = 3), and diffuse pleural thickening (n = 2). No significant difference in survival was found between the thoracic EHE group and nonthoracic EHE group (P = 0.68). Among 4 different thoracic involvement types, the lung multinodular pattern tended to demonstrate longer median survival (8.5 months) than other patterns, whereas the shortest median survival (1 month) was observed for the nodule/mass with pleural involvement pattern (P = 0.038). CT manifestations of thoracic EHEs are classified into 4 patterns, of which lung multinodular pattern is associated with longer survival. Survival is not different between patients with and without thoracic involvement.