A Twenty Year Retrospective Histopathological Analysis of Vascular Tumours in University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Vascular tumours are a heterogeneous group of soft tissue lesions arising from blood vessels. These lesions range from benign borderline  to malignant forms (WHO). These behavioral features are very essential especially as this may strongly influence the choice of treatment of cases. The
aim of this study was to determine the histopathologic pattern of the vascular tumours in the body to demonstrate the prevalence of these groups of lesion.
Materials and method: The records of 123 histopathology consultations in the Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital  over a 20 year period which commenced January 1, 1990 - December 31, 2010 were retrieved and used. The lesions were individually reviewed and  standardized in accordance with the standard classification system (World Health Organization classification of soft tissue tumours; 2013).

Results: The mean age involvement was 46±27 years and the prevalence, 3.44%. Haemangiomas were the most predominant of the tumours recorded in  this study accounting for 59% (72) of the entire th vascular tumours. The male female ratio was 1:1 and the lesions were distributed from the second to 6 decades of life. These tumours were predominantly 30(41%) localized to the head. Eight (8) cases of lymphangiomas were observed in this study and they  constituted 7% of the entire vascular tumours and 10% of benign vascular tumours. Only two (2) cases of haemangioendotheliomas were recorded  during the entire study period accounting for 2% of vascular tumours with both lesions located in the gluteal aspects of the lower extremities and axilla  respectively and both responsible for 2% of vascular lesions. Kaposi sarcoma accounted for 31% (38) of the vascular tumours recorded in the index study  with more of the tumours occurring in females (ratio 6:5).Only two cases of angiosarcomas were recorded constituting approximately 2% of the vascular  tumours.

Conclusion: This analysis of vascular tumours showed that these lesions were relatively uncommon and demonstrated a wide anatomic and  age distribution.