Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the spleen in a child: a case report

BACKGROUND: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a vascular tumor characterized by the proliferation of endothelial cells with papillary formation. It is a rare benign condition affecting the head and neck. Currently, no cases of IPEH of the spleen have been reported. Here, we report a case of IPEH of the spleen in a child and discuss its clinical manifestations, imaging features, and surgical treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 5-year-old female presented with a 4-month-old tumor in the left upper abdomen, abdominal pain, and constipation. She underwent radiography, barium enema, US, and MRI. A solid space-occupying mass was found in the left abdominal cavity on preoperative imaging, and it was diagnosed as angiosarcoma. The lesion was surgically resected. Histopathological analysis was consistent with IPEH. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the possibility of IPEH in patients presenting with tumors in the spleen, which is curable by surgical resection. Malignant vascular tumors must be excluded in the differential diagnosis of IPEH to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate overtreatment.