Objectives: Lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) rarely involves the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This study describes clinicopathologic features of LCH in a cohort of GI cases.
Methods: We defined lobular capillary hemangioma as "a proliferation of capillary-sized blood vessels arranged at least focally in a lobular configuration," searched departmental archives for cases, and recorded clinicopathologic findings.
Results: We identified 34 GI tract LCHs from 16 men and 10 women; 4 patients had multiple lesions. Mean age was 64 years. Cases arose in the esophagus (n = 7), stomach (n = 3), small bowel (n = 7), and colorectum (n = 17). Twelve patients had anemia or rectal bleeding. No patients had a known genetic syndrome. The lesions manifested as mucosal polyps, with median size of 1.3 cm. Microscopically, 20 lesions were ulcerated, and most involved the mucosa, with 9 extending into the submucosa. Vessel dilation was present in 27 patients, endothelial hobnailing in 13, hemorrhage in 13, and focal reactive stromal atypia in 2. Follow-up information was available for 10 patients, none of whom developed same-site recurrence. Six of the 26 cases (23%) were extradepartmental consultations, including 2 of the multifocal cases.
Conclusions: Gastrointestinal tract LCHs often arise as colorectal polyps. They are typically small but can reach a few centimeters in size and can be multifocal.
Keywords: gastrointestinal tract; lobular capillary hemangioma; pyogenic granuloma.
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