Keywords
kaposiform hemangioendothelioma - pancreatic - Sirolimus
New Insights and the Importance for the Pediatric Surgeon
Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) with pancreatic involvement is rare, and it suggests different behavior than the cutaneous involvement. Even histopathology is similar in both anatomical locations, resistance to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors treatment in pancreatic involvement suggest the possibility of a different molecular profile.
Introduction
Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA) are vascular tumors with clinical and histopathological overlap in the same disease, TA being at the less aggressive part of the spectrum. KHE is an infiltrative vascular tumor of endothelial and lymphatic cell lineage that usually presents in childhood, predominantly below 1 year of age.[1] KHE can appear in skin, deep soft tissue, retroperitoneum, and mediastinum, and it rarely takes visceral involvement. KHE is frequently associated with Kasabach–Merrit phenomenon (KMP), characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy, especially in large tumors (>5 cm).
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, particularly sirolimus, have been shown to be an effective treatment in cutaneous KHE, becoming indeed the treatment of choice in KMP.[2] From <40 retroperitoneal KHE reported in English literature, only two involved pancreas, one was treated with Whipple operation, and the other responded to sirolimus.[3]
[4]
We report a case of pancreatic KHE associated with KMP refractory to sirolimus.
Case Report
A 4-month-old infant is referred to our hospital for obstructive jaundice secondary to a vascular pancreatic tumor. Her history revealed the presence of vomiting, acholic stools, and progressive jaundice for 5 weeks of life. Physical examination showed cutaneous and conjunctival jaundice and minor hepatomegaly. Laboratory testing disclosed elevated liver enzymes (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT] 178 IU/L, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase [GPT] 128 IU/L, and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT] 608 IU/L), elevated conjugated bilirubin (10 mg/dL), and a minor decrease in platelets (109,000/µL). Abdominal ultrasound (US) and MR showed a vascular mass at the pancreatic head (3.3 × 2.4 × 1.8 cm), a distended gallbladder and a dilated biliary tract (up to 7.2 mm) ([Fig. 1]). An open laparotomy for biopsy was performed and immunohistochemistry profile was compatible with KHE ([Fig. 2]).
Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance findings vascular tumor at the pancreatic head (3.3 × 2.4 × 1.8 cm) and a dilated biliary tract (7.2 mm).
Fig. 2 Pathology findings pancreatic kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Hematoxylin-eosin staining shows abnormal proliferation of spindle endothelial cells in pancreatic tissue and slit-like lumen formations.
She was admitted to our hospital, and, after considering the tumor unresectable, sirolimus was started at the initial dose of 0.8 mg/m2/12 h to treat KHE and to prevent KMP. To resolve obstructive jaundice, interventional radiology was performed for percutaneous biliary diversion. This procedure prompted KMP with thrombocytopenia (platelets 51,000/µL), consumptive coagulopathy (prothrombin activity 45%), and microangiopathic anemia. Percutaneous biliary diversion needed relocation 6 days after the placement due to obstruction, and after manipulation, the patient developed duodenal hematoma, which resolved with drainage. Sirolimus treatment for 7 days showed no improvement; therefore, we started our VAT protocol (vincristine/aspirine/ticlopidin) after placing a central catheter. Platelets showed great response after 10 days (3,70,000/µL).
Three months later, vincristine was withdrawn in light of platelets stabilization, and percutaneous biliary diversion was replaced by a biodegradable biliary stent (diameter 7 mm and length 36 mm) due to persistence of biliary tract dilation. The patient presented self-limited hematemesis and hematochezia after stent implant.
Three months later, we performed a control MR revealing tumor involution leaving fibrosis. Abdominal US showed dilation of biliary tract persistence (up to 8–9 mm); therefore, open hepaticojejunostomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed, and the stent was removed. The patient was discharged 7 days after surgery.
The patient is asymptomatic and on oral feeds at present.
Discussion
KHE typically presents during childhood as a vascular tumor, affecting trunk, extremities, and retroperitoneum.[1] It rarely presents with visceral involvement, with only a few dozen cases published in the literature and only two cases with pancreatic settlement known.[3]
[4] KMP is a frequent complication, especially in large tumors and visceral involvement, in which platelet trapping within the tumor can lead to life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Although our patient presented a tumor <5 cm, retroperitoneal and visceral involvement have shown an increased risk of KMP.[1] KHE is a tumor that shrinks in time and usually regresses in 10 years, but it may leave a dense fibrosis behind. This tendency to disappear makes it easier to decide close follow-up without treatment, unless arising of KMP or other complications, such as obstructive jaundice, is observed in our patient.
Multiple medical therapies have been used in the treatment of KHE and KMP, including systemic steroids, vincristine, interferon-alfa, and aspirin.[5] Our stablished protocol for KMP involves a combination of chemotherapy with vincristine (0.05 mg/kg given weekly) and double antiaggregation with ticlopidine (10 mg/kg/day) and aspirin (10 mg/kg/day).[6]
[7] Sirolimus treatment in cutaneous KHE has been described as successful in the literature, as well as in our own experience; however, it failed in our patient with visceral KHE.[8]
[9] Side effects of medical therapy and recurrence rates of KHE are not described well; therefore, long-term follow-up is mandatory in these patients.
Conclusion
KHE remains the most aggressive of benign vascular tumors. Pancreatic involvement is exceedingly rare, and data from an eventual different behavior in comparison with the cutaneous involvement are not available. Even considering that KHE histopathology is similar in both anatomical locations, resistance to mTOR inhibitors treatment suggests the possibility of a different molecular profile. VAT protocol remains a safe and successful pharmacological therapy in the management of KMP.
