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Intimal sarcoma


Editorial Board Member: Nasir Ud Din, M.B.B.S.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Borislav A. Alexiev, M.D.
Matjaz Sebenik, M.D.

Last author update: 27 November 2023
Last staff update: 27 November 2023

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PubMed Search: Intimal sarcoma

Matjaz Sebenik, M.D.
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Table of Contents
Definition / general | Essential features | ICD coding | Epidemiology | Sites | Pathophysiology | Etiology | Diagrams / tables | Clinical features | Diagnosis | Laboratory | Radiology description | Radiology images | Prognostic factors | Case reports | Treatment | Clinical images | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Virtual slides | Positive stains | Negative stains | Electron microscopy description | Molecular / cytogenetics description | Sample pathology report | Differential diagnosis | Additional references | Practice question #1 | Practice answer #1 | Practice question #2 | Practice answer #2
Cite this page: Sebenik M. Intimal sarcoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/softtissueintimalsarcoma.html. Accessed April 29th, 2025.
Definition / general
  • Undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors arising from the inner lining (intima) of large arteries are classified as intimal sarcomas (ISA) with MDM2 amplification as their molecular hallmark (Mod Pathol 2021;34:2122)
  • The defining feature is predominantly intraluminal growth with obstruction of the lumen of the vessels of origin and seeding of emboli to the peripheral organs (WHO 5th edition)
  • ~67% of intimal sarcomas arise in the pulmonary circulation, almost always in the pulmonary artery; these are covered at Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma
Essential features
ICD coding
  • ICD-O: 9137/3 - intimal sarcoma
  • ICD-11: 2B5F.2 & XH36H7 - sarcoma, not elsewhere classified of other specified sites & intimal sarcoma
Epidemiology
  • Rare tumor
  • Estimated prevalence: 0.0003 - 0.001%
  • M = F
  • Median age at diagnosis: 60 years (Intern Med 2016;55:3191)
Sites
  • Medline search on intimal sarcoma performed on September 20, 2023, revealed 411 papers published in the last 50 years describing 716 cases
    • Systemic circulation
      • Arteries
        • Aorta: 140 cases (19.56%)
          • Ascending: 5 cases (0.70%)
          • Arch: 15 cases (2.09%)
          • Descending: 6 cases (0.84%)
          • Thoracic: 29 cases (4.05%)
          • Abdominal: 44 cases (6.15%)
          • Not known: 41 cases (5.73%)
        • Other arteries: 21 cases (2.93%)
      • Veins: 14 cases (1.94%)
        • Inferior vena cava: 7 cases (0.97%)
        • Other veins: 7 cases (0.97%)
    • Pulmonary circulation: 338 cases (47.21%)
      • Pulmonary artery: 336 cases (46.93%)
      • Pulmonary vein: 2 cases (0.28%)
    • Heart: 203 cases (28.36%)
      • Left heart: 128 cases (17.89%)
      • Right heart: 75 cases (10.47%)
Pathophysiology
Etiology
  • Not known
  • 5 - 10% of tumors occur at sites of remote Dacron graft placement
  • In up to 20% of patients, the tumor is an incidental finding during aortic aneurysm repair (Pathology 2014;46:596)
Diagrams / tables

Images hosted on other servers:
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Characteristic
histologic features
of 2 most common
patterns

Clinical features
  • Clinical and radiological findings of intimal sarcoma are often similar to those of thromboembolic disease, leading to delays in establishing diagnosis
  • Aortic intimal sarcoma mimics embolic phenom, such as claudication, skin necrosis and abdominal angina, due to the bulky intravascular component and friability
  • In case reports, more than 50% of patients had metastatic disease at the time of presentation; common sites include bone, lung, liver, lymph nodes, extremities, kidneys, skin and adrenal glands
  • Embolization to the brain is usually limited to tumors that involve the aortic arch and occurs in ~25% of patients
  • Additional symptoms are nonspecific and include chest, back or abdominal pain, nausea, dyspnea and systemic hypertension (Radiographics 2021;41:361)
Diagnosis
  • In some cases, the diagnosis of aortic neoplasia is made after endarterectomy for presumed thromboembolus in the systemic circulation (Pathology 2014;46:596)
  • More often, diagnosis of aortic intimal sarcoma (AIS) is delayed or even postmortem because these neoplasms are frequently misdiagnosed as more common nonneoplastic conditions, such as atheroma
  • Diagnosis is made by histology on resection specimens or during autopsy; biopsies of aorta are usually not performed
  • More prompt recognition is essential for timely initiation of aggressive treatment (Radiographics 2021;41:361)
Laboratory
  • D dimer might be elevated (mimics thromboembolism) (Med Clin (Barc) 2022;158:265)
  • Clinical findings of vasculitis and other inflammatory conditions, including elevated C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), dilated aorta or symptoms of claudication, may also manifest in aortic intimal sarcoma, increasing the diagnostic challenge (Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2011;32:377)
Radiology description
  • Great vessel sarcomas are often misdiagnosed at initial clinical presentation, due to their extreme rarity and their imaging appearance, which can overlap with those of much more common entities
  • Aortic intimal sarcomas are often misdiagnosed as protuberant atherosclerotic disease or intimal thrombus
  • Localized, near occlusive, lobulated or frond-like, endoluminal aortic lesion of low attenuation lining the vessel wall, evident anywhere in the thoracoabdominal aorta, is suspicious for aortic intimal sarcoma
  • Most useful imaging modalities for assessment of a suspected intimal sarcoma include computed tomography (CT) angiography, fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • None of the above modalities, however, reliably differentiate between a thrombus and a malignancy; the ultimate diagnosis must be based on tissue examination (Radiographics 2021;41:361)
Radiology images

Contributed by Matjaz Sebenik, M.D.
BPD reporting overview

MRI of luminal tumor aortic arch

Prognostic factors
  • While median survival in patients without metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis is 20 months, it is only 6 months when metastases are present (Ann Vasc Surg 2014;28:515)
  • Even in the absence of metastatic disease, outcomes remain poor unless the tumor can be entirely excised (Radiographics 2021;41:361)
  • Age does not appear to be a prognostic factor (Oncol Res Treat 2017;40:353)
Case reports
  • 48 year old man with a history of chronic cardiac disease presented with 3 months of persistent back pain; CT and MRI both revealed a solid fusiform lesion of the descending aorta (Aorta (Stamford) 2019;7:169)
  • 49 year old woman with atherosclerotic plaque and thrombus (Open Med (Wars) 2021;16:1306)
  • 59 year old man with a tumor involving all segments of the thoracic aorta and a large floating thrombus causing acute mesenteric ischemia, treated successfully with embolectomy (Vasc Specialist Int 2021;37:46)
  • 71 year old woman with abdominal angina and an intra-aortic mass at the thoracoabdominal aorta that restricted blood supply to the organs (Ann Vasc Dis 2019;12:225)
  • 74 year old woman with aortic mass in the thoracoabdominal aorta masquerading as a mycotic aneurysm (J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2019;5:593)
Treatment
  • Treatment of aortic intimal sarcoma depends on the extent of aortic involvement and the presence or absence of metastatic disease
  • Radical surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment but complete surgical resection is rarely an option (Oncol Res Treat 2017;40:353)
  • Neoadjuvant therapy might shrink the tumor and thereby facilitate more efficient surgery; however, patients are often highly symptomatic at diagnosis requiring immediate surgery for symptomatic relief, leaving no time for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Tex Heart Inst J 2014;41:518)
  • Role of adjuvant therapy is not yet proven, although some authors suggested better outcomes in patients receiving multimodality treatment compared to patients undergoing single modality treatment (Tex Heart Inst J 2009;36:451)
  • If adjuvant chemotherapy is initiated, there is no consensus on which agent or combination of agents could be effective
  • Palliative chemotherapy should be considered for inoperable, advanced cases but the quality and quantity of responses to available systemic agents is poor (Oncol Res Treat 2017;40:353)
  • MDM2, studied extensively in intimal sarcoma of pulmonary artery and heart, has become an area of focus in cancer treatment because anti-MDM2 therapy has become a reality
    • Small molecule inhibitors that block the MDM2 - p53 interaction and thus, reestablish wild type p53 activity, are available
    • First generation small molecule inhibitors of MDM2, nutlins, were identified in 2004
    • Nutlin 3A, a pharmacological inhibitor of the MDM2 - p53 interaction, stabilizes p53; however, its clinical efficacy is very low and severe thrombocytopenia represents a dose limiting toxicity
    • Recent novel second generation molecules that interfere with MDM2 or the MDM2 - p53 interaction, seem to be more promising (Diagnostics (Basel) 2021;11:496)
Clinical images

Contributed by Domenico Galetta, M.D., Ph.D.
CT scan and an intraoperative view

CT scan and an intraoperative view

Gross description
  • Macroscopically, intimal sarcomas are predominantly intravascular polypoid masses bound to the vessel wall, resembling thrombi (Radiographics 2021;41:361)
  • Section shows rubbery, gray, hemorrhagic, necrotic cut surface often associated with thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque material
  • Sizes ranged from 1 cm to very large tumors exceeding 10 cm (Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:1184)
Gross images

Contributed by Marietta Kintiroglou, M.D. and Case #206
Gross photograph of cross sections

Cross sections

 

Abdominal aorta

 

Necrotic tumor infarcts

Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Surgical specimens
    • Intraluminal tumors are largely necrotic, with a narrow layer or rind of preserved cells limited to the luminal surface of a large thrombus or the intimal aspect of the affected vessel (see figures 1 - 6)
    • Low power appearance is often reminiscent of a complex atheroma with extensive fibrin thrombus
    • Tumors are composed of large epithelioid or histiocytoid cells that are poorly cohesive exhibiting a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio
    • Nuclei are pleomorphic with macronucleoli and numerous mitotic figures, including abnormal forms; the cytology of individual tumor cells most closely resembles amelanotic malignant melanoma or an anaplastic lymphoma and multinucleated giant tumor cells are infrequent
    • Cytoplasm is sparse and occasionally vacuolated but tumor cells neither exhibit intracytoplasmic lumina nor do they line capillary-like spaces in the primary tumors (see figure 4)
    • In all metastatic sites, the tumor’s appearance is altered and can have a wide variety of histologic patterns; these alterations included classic angiosarcoma (figure 9), pleomorphic tumor resembling undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) (malignant fibrous histiocytoma [MFH]) (figures 10 - 11) or pleomorphic tumor resembling liposarcoma (figure 12) (Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:1184)
  • Autopsies
    • In all cases where autopsy material or records were available for review, the tumor had recurred at the primary site
    • Widespread metastases were found in all cases, involving the lung, liver, vertebral bone, pancreas, small bowel, kidney, adrenal glands, diaphragm and skin
    • In local extravascular soft tissue recurrences and in distant metastatic sites, the tumors no longer showed the characteristic histology described in the luminal lesions; similar to the surgical pathology material, extravascular tumors took on the appearance of differentiated sarcomas, such as rhabdomyosarcoma (figure 7), osteosarcoma (figure 8), angiosarcoma (figure 9) and liposarcoma (figure 12)
    • Multiple patterns were seen in a single case and even in a single metastatic site (Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:1184)
Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Matjaz Sebenik, M.D. and and Case #206
Typical appearance of luminal UIS

Typical appearance of luminal UIS

Typical appearance of luminal UIS

Luminal UIS arising in a large vein

Intraluminal tumor   Intraluminal tumor

Intraluminal tumor

Intraluminal tumor, CD31

Intraluminal tumor, CD31

Intraluminal tumor, FLI1

Intraluminal tumor, FLI1


Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites   Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites   Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites

Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites

Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites   Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites   Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites

Phenotype alteration of UIS in extravascular sites


Abdominal aorta with a narrow rind of preserved malignant cells

Abdominal aorta with narrow rind of preserved malignant cells

Preserved large epithelioid poorly cohesive tumor cells

Preserved large epithelioid poorly cohesive tumor cells

Tumor emboli present in liver, spleen, lung and kidney   Tumor emboli present in the bone marrow of femur

Tumor emboli

Individual tumor cells in spleen

Individual tumor cells in spleen

Virtual slides

Contributed by Matjaz Sebenik, M.D.
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A: huge tumor of entire aorta

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A: aortic tumor invading adventitia with osteoid

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B: thrombus of abdominal aorta

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B: skin metastases with typical angiosarcoma


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C: iliac aortas with typical intraluminal appearance

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C: femoral bone metastases with pleomorphic liposarcoma

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D: thoracic aorta with typical intraluminal appearance

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D: pelvic bone metastases with UPS

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E: tumor of right posterior lower thigh skin vein



Positive stains
Negative stains
Electron microscopy description
  • Fine structure is nonspecific (Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:1184)
    • Viable appearing cells are ovoid with a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio
    • Nuclei are irregular and deeply convoluted with marginated condensed heterochromatin
    • About 33% of cases show focal perinuclear intermediate filaments
    • Cytoplasm is devoid of specific organelles like melanosomes or Weibel-Palade bodies
Molecular / cytogenetics description
Sample pathology report
  • Mass, aorta, excision:
    • Intimal sarcoma (see comment)
    • Comment: Sections show proliferation of oval to round cells covering thrombus. Nuclei are hyperchromatic, nucleoli are prominent. Cells are predominantly limited to intima (supported by elastic stain) and only very focally invade media. Tumor cells are diffusely positive for CD31 and FLI1, focally positive for factor VIII and CD34, and negative for AE1 / AE3, SOX10 and HMB45. MDM2 immunohistochemistry shows positivity in the tumor nuclei. FISH study shows MDM2 and CDK4 amplification. The histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular findings are consistent with a diagnosis of intimal sarcoma.
Differential diagnosis
  • Intravascular lymphoma:
    • Most common in capillaries to medium sized vessels, especially in brain and skin; occasionally seen in larger systemic vessels, such as aorta
    • Most cases are of B lineage, occasionally of T lineage
      • T cell cases should generally be considered a different disease
    • Positive for LCA and B cell markers; negative for CD31 and FLI1 (BMC Nephrol 2018;19:300)
  • Metastatic carcinoma:
    • Secondary (metastatic) aortic malignant neoplasms are more commonly seen than primary tumors and are more readily diagnosed, possibly owing to the knowledge of a pre-existing primary tumor
    • There appears to be no age predilection (J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2018;4:160)
    • In the thoracic region, invasion from the lungs, esophagus and thymoma is the usual scenario (Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2012;33:265)
    • Retroperitoneal sarcomas and germ cell tumors are the most common malignant neoplasms invading the abdominal aorta, potentially with resultant aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm formation and rupture (Ann Vasc Surg 2008;22:568)
    • Usually present in vasa vasorum and adventitia, not in the tunica intima (Discoveries (Craiova) 2020;8:e106)
    • Positive for carcinoma markers; negative for CD31 and FLI1
  • Leiomyoma / leiomyosarcoma (LMS):
    • Originates from smooth muscles of tunica media
    • 5 times more common in veins than in arteries
    • 50% of venous LMS originate in inferior vena cava, 25% in saphenous vein, the rest in femoral vein, internal jugular vein or iliac vein
    • Majority of the extremity venous LMS arise from lower extremity
    • Histologically are indistinguishable from their soft tissue counterpart diagnosis (Ann Vasc Surg 2019;57:274.e5)
    • Positive for smooth muscle markers; negative for endothelial markers
  • Angiosarcoma:
    • In theory, primary angiosarcomas of aorta should feature intima based vasoformative histologic pattern typical of soft tissue angiosarcomas
    • To date, no vasoformative cases have been described in the aortic intima
    • Published cases of primary angiosarcoma of the aorta are actually intimal sarcomas, which were called angiosarcomas because of positive staining for endothelial markers or because they featured vasoformative structures outside of tunica intima (i.e., within the native vessel wrap) (J Vasc Surg 1991;14:87)
  • Metastatic melanoma:
    • Melanoma cells are most frequently found embedded in the fibrinous blood clot
    • Positive for melanoma markers; negative for CD31 and FLI1 (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:191)
Practice question #1


A 45 year old woman presented with a hypertensive crisis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a thoracic aortic tumor and tissues obtained via endovascular biopsy revealed a thrombus rimmed by atypical cells, which were positive for CD31 and FLI1 and negative for LCA, CD20, SOX10 and HMB45. Despite undergoing surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient died from progressive multiple metastasis and severe sepsis only 3 months later. What is the diagnosis?

  1. High grade sarcoma, consistent with intimal sarcoma
  2. Intravascular lymphoma
  3. Metastatic carcinoma
  4. Metastatic melanoma
  5. Thromboembolus
Practice answer #1
A. High grade sarcoma, consistent with intimal sarcoma. Answer A is correct because malignant cells covering the thrombus are positive for CD31 and FLI1 and negative for LCA, CD20, SOX10 and HMB45. Answer B is incorrect because intravascular lymphoma is stained with endothelial, not lymphatic markers. Answer D is incorrect because metastatic melanoma is stained with endothelial, not melanoma markers. Answer C is incorrect because metastatic carcinoma is stained with endothelial (not carcinoma) markers and because it was intimal (metastatic carcinomas involve adventitia and vasa vasorum, not intima). Answer E is incorrect because the thrombus in this case is covered by malignant cells.

Comment Here

Reference: Intimal sarcoma
Practice question #2
What is the most common location of intimal sarcoma?

  1. Aorta
  2. Heart
  3. Pulmonary artery
  4. Pulmonary vein
  5. Systemic vein
Practice answer #2
C. Pulmonary artery. Answer C is correct because the pulmonary artery is involved in ~47% of cases. Answer A is incorrect because the aorta is involved in ~19.5% of cases. Answer E is incorrect because systemic veins are involved in ~1.9% of cases. Answer B is incorrect because the heart is involved in ~28% of cases. Answer D is incorrect because pulmonary veins are involved in ~0.3% of cases.

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Reference: Intimal sarcoma
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