Epithelioid hemangioma of the scapula treated with chemoembolization and microwave ablation

Abstract

Bone epithelioid hemangiomas are classiŞed within benign vascular tumours but are commonly misdiagnosed as low-grade angiosarcomas or epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas. Current therapeutic interventions include various treatment options but local recurrence or distal lymph node involvement hasbeen reported. We report a rare case of scapular epithelioid hemangioma that was initially treated usinga combination of chemoembolization and microwave ablation. This combination has not been previouslyreported in the literature regarding the management of this tumour. A year after theŞrst course oftreatment, the tumour size has been reduced more than 70% and the patient has remarkable clinicalimprovement. Results reported in this case study demonstrated that combination of chemoembolizationand microwave ablation is a feasible, safe and effective technique in the treatment of bone epithelioidhemangiomas. Even if the tumour is still present afterwards, a substantially smaller surgical excision willbe needed.