What is Haemangioendothelioma of the Bone?
Epithelioid Haemangioendothelioma is a rare type of malignant tumour that arises from the blood vessels or small capillaries of many organs such as the lungs, liver, bone, and soft tissues of the body. Epitheliod haemangioendothelioma of the bone is very rare as in only 1% of cases it originates from the bonesWhat is Haemangioendothelioma?
The term haemangioendothelioma is used to describe the cancer of blood vessels and small capillaries. These may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Hemangioendothelioma can affect the skin and soft tissues of the body, such as the liver or lungs. It is a slowly growing tumour but tends to metastasize (spread of the tumour from its place of origin to other parts of the body).Disease Causes
Epithelial hemangioendothelioma of bone has a genetic origin because it is caused by translocation in the arrangement of chromosomes (swapping of genetic material) called WC fusion. It is equally common in both men and women. It can occur at any age, but the peak incidence of the disease occurs in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Pain in the affected bone particularly with exertion or doing any physical activity
- Limp (Difficulty in walking or writing due to damage or fracture in bone of arm or leg)
- Swelling
- Broken bones
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- Renal Function tests (RFTs)
- Imaging diagnostic techniques such as X-Ray, CT-scan, and PET-scan can be used to detect the site, size, and extent of the tumour.
- Tumour Biopsy
- Aspiration Cytology