Hemangiopericytoma
Cyril Fisher, MD, DSc, FRCPath
Key Facts
Terminology
Tumor with diffuse pattern of branching, dilated, thin-walled blood vessels composed of short spindle cells
Many tumor types have pericytomatous pattern, so diagnosis is rarely made
Most such tumors without specific differentiation are now classified as solitary fibrous tumors
Clinical Issues
Site: Pelvis, retroperitoneum, proximal limbs
Subset in meninges
Subset in sinonasal region
Microscopic Pathology
Widespread hemangiopericytic pattern
Thin-walled vessels
Short plump spindle cells
 Hematoxylin & eosin shows a diffuse hemangiopericytic pattern. The vascular channels are dispersed throughout the tumor but vary in size, shape, and dilatation. Note the “staghorn” shape  . |
 Hematoxylin & eosin shows hemangiopericytoma with myxoid change. There is a hemangiopericytic pattern, but the vessels are slit-like  , not dilated. |
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Hemangiopericytoma (HPC)
Definitions
Tumor with diffuse pattern of branching, dilated, thinwalled blood vessels composed of short spindle cells
Diagnosis is now rarely made
Many different specific tumor types have hemangiopericytic vascular pattern
Most remaining tumors without specific differentiation are now classified as solitary fibrous tumor
Tumors of pericytes now classified as myopericytoma
CLINICAL ISSUES
Epidemiology
Incidence
Rare once other possibilities excluded
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