| • This specimen contains the bones
of the orbit in section. • Note the blue lesion. This is the
cavernous hemangioma.
• The blue color is due to the accumulation of de-oxygenated blood. |
| • This specimen contains the bones
of the orbit in section. • Note the blue lesion. This is the
cavernous hemangioma.
• The blue color is due to the accumulation of de-oxygenated blood. |
| Cavernous Hemangioma |
| Etiology |
•Unknown. |
| Pathogenesis |
•Unknown. |
| Epidemiology |
•Often noted in childhood. |
| Clinical |
•Present as blue
lesions. •Tumors are most often only of cosmetic significance. •However, when present in the brain, hemorrhage can be
a lethal consequence. •In von Hippel-Lindau disease, several of these lesions are
seen, in the cerebellum, brain stem and abdominal viscera. |
| General Gross Description |
•Benign vascular malformation. •Usually solitary; however, multiple cavernous hemangiomas
occur in a genetic disorder, called von Hippel-Lindau
disease. •Grossly, cavernous hemangiomas are blue, soft and spongy. |
| General Micro Description |
•Histologically, the lesion is characterized by large,
thin walled blood vessels completely filled with blood. •In contrast to other hemangiomas, vascular channels are
of large diameter (hence, cavernous or like a cave). •Evidence of previous hemorrhage often seen. |
| Reference |
• Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 507.
|
