Acquired elastotic hemangioma (AEH) is a hemangioma variant, first described by Requena et al. in 2002.1 It is characterized by a solitary, slow-growing lesion located in a sun-exposed area.1,2 Histopathologically, it presents a proliferation of capillaries in the superficial dermis, accompanied by a pronounced solar elastosis.1 We report a case of this rare hemangioma variant, with characteristic clinical and histopathological aspects.

A 65-year-old man presented with a lesion on the back of his right hand and forearm. The lesion had persisted for 15 years and was asymptomatic and slow growing. Clinical examination revealed a slightly-raised, well-defined erythematous lesion of irregular shape, measuring 8 cm in the long axis, located on the back of the right hand and forearm, with fading under diascopy. (Figure 1). Dermatoscopy showed punctiform and glomerular vessels in homogeneous arrangement (Figure 2). An incisional biopsy was performed. The histopathological examination revealed a proliferation of small, venule-like vessels in the upper dermis, distributed parallel to the epidermis, amid intense solar elastosis (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 1:.

Slightly raised erythematous lesion, with irregular border, measuring about 8 cm in diameter

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Figure 2:.

Punctiform and glomerular vessels distributed diffusely and homogeneously on dermatoscopy

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Figure 3:.

Vessel proliferation in the upper dermis and solar elastosis (Hematoxylin & eosin, x100)

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Figure 4:.

Vessels arranged parallel to the epidermis (Hematoxylin & eosin, x200)

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AEH is a benign vascular proliferation, first described in 2002 by Requena et al.1 It is a cutaneous hemangioma variant associated with sun exposure. Typically, it presents as a flat or raised, erythematous or violaceous, irregular, slow-growing, solitary plaque.1–4 AEH is usually asymptomatic, and rarely painful. It is located in areas exposed to sun, particularly the forearms and the neck.1,2 Its first description reported cases in women only; however, it has been found in similar proportions of both sexes.1–3 It affects mainly adults between 59 and 64 years of age.1,2

Our case is similar to previously reported cases in that the patient is an adult and has a single, slow-growing lesion in an area susceptible to sun damage. However, unlike other published cases, our patient’s lesion showed a more irregular border, larger dimensions, and prolonged evolution. In the previously described cases, the lesion is about 2 to 5 cm in diameter, in contrast to 8 cm in our case (Figure 1). One hypothesis for this difference in that the long evolution period (15 years). Histopathology revealed the same characteristics as in other cases, confirming the diagnosis of AEH.

Diagnosis is based on histopathological features, with vascular proliferation in the superficial dermis, with the vessels forming a band arranged horizontally and parallel to the epidermis. The first description [Requena et al.]1 highlighted six cases with proliferation of capillaries involving the superficial dermis. In one of these cases, vessels with thickened walls were found, and another patient had proliferation of capillaries and venules. The vast majority of subsequent cases described only capillaries involved in characteristic vascular proliferation. In the case described here, venule-like vessels and rare capillaries were seen in the superficial dermis. There were no endothelial cells with atypia or mitotic figures, an important indication of the benign nature of the affection, distinguishing it from angiosarcoma or Kaposi’s sarcoma. There was intense solar elastosis involving the proliferated vessels, suggestive of sun damage as an etiological factor.1 In a series of 14 cases, the immunohistochemical studies were all positive for D2-40. In another series with 10 patients, however, only one was positive for D2-40, leaving open the actual participation of lymphatic vessels in AEH.2,3

All cases reported in the literature, including the one presented here, were biopsied, with diagnostic hypotheses other than AEH. Among the considered hypotheses, the main one was basal cell carcinoma. Other clinical differential diagnoses are Bowen’s disease, actinic keratosis, and other hemangiomas.1–5 The histopathological differential diagnosis involves vascular lesions that develop in adulthood, such as senile angioma (a more common, acquired, vascular proliferation of small, dilated, and congested vessels in the dermis, not arranged parallel to the epidermis, with peripheral epithelial collarette ); tufted angioma (multiple lobes composed of endothelial cells and small vessels in the dermis and hypodermis, and a “cannonball” appearance); and the initial stage of Kaposi’s sarcoma (presence of predominantly lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate, with irregular vascular proliferation dissecting the dermal collagen, and mild atypia of endothelial cells).1,2,4,5

The treatment of AEH is surgical, without reports of recurrence. Due to the extent of the lesion in the presented case, clinical follow-up was chosen.

AEH is probably underdiagnosed, often interpreted as conventional hemangioma.5 Thus, we highlight the importance of understanding this new hemangioma variant for generating diagnostic hypotheses on acquired vascular lesions in adults.

Financial support: None.

Conflict of interests: None.