Hemangioma

Bone
Vascular tumors of bone
Hemangioma

Author: Nat Pernick, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 27 October 2016, last major update June 2005

Copyright: (c) 2003-2016, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed search: hemangioma [title] bone

Related topics: Epithelioid hemangioma

Table of Contents

Definition / general | Radiology description | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosis

Cite this page: Hemangioma. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/bonehemangioma.html. Accessed July 14th, 2017.

Definition / general

Most common vascular tumor of bone
Identified in vertebrae in 12% of autopsies, 34% are multiple
Usually incidental finding; ages 20 - 50 years, no definite gender preference
May actually be vascular malformations, not neoplasms
Multiple bony hemangiomas more common in children, associated with cutaneous, soft tissue or visceral hemangiomas
Sacral hemangiomas in infants associated with congenital anomalies
Sites for clinically significant hemangiomas: skull, vertebrae (causing spinal cord compression), jaw; occur in marrow

Radiology description

Sunburst appearance due to trabecular bone, particularly in spine and skull
Nonspecific in long bones

Gross description

Elevation of periosteum
Currant jelly cut surface

Microscopic (histologic) description

Thick walled lattice-like pattern of vessels
Either capillary or cavernous
Often with reactive new bone formation
No endothelial atypia

Differential diagnosis