Long-term results after liver transplantation for primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Background: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PHEHE) is a multifocal, low-grade malignant neoplasia characterized by its epithelial-like appearance and vascular endothelial histogenesis. The outcome of 16 patients treated with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the subject of this report. Methods: A retrospective study of 16 patients with HEHE (7 men, 9 women) with ages ranging from 24 to 58 years (mean 37 ± 10.6 years). Follow-up intervals ranged from 1 to 15 years (median of 4.5 years). Results: Actual patient survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 100, 87.5, and 71.3%, respectively. Disease-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 81.3, 68.8, and 60.2%, respectively. The 90-day operative mortality was 0. Involvement of the hilar lymph nodes or vascular invasion did not affect survival. The 5-year survival of HEHE compares favorably with that of hepatocellular carcinoma at the same stage (stage 4A): 71.3 versus 9.8% (p=0.001) Conclusions: The long-term survival obtained in this series justifies OLT for these tumors even in the presence of limited extrahepatic disease. © 1995 The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc

Revisiting childhood herpes zoster.

Herpes zoster is rare in otherwise healthy children, but it is more common in association with immunosuppression. Maternal varicella infection during pregnancy and varicella occurring in the newborn represent risk factors for childhood herpes zoster. However, some controversies persist about risk factors, diagnosis, and the natural history of childhood disease. In a 2-year prospective study, 18 children with herpes zoster were clinically diagnosed in outpatient consultations in a hospital dermatology unit. Data about age, dermatome involvement, underlying disease, and history of previous varicella were recorded. Tzanck smears, biopsy specimens, and sera were obtained from 18, 4, and 10 children, respectively. The varicella zoster virus major envelope glycoprotein gE was detected in 16 of 18 smears and all four biopsies. Herpes simplex virus I was demonstrated in one of the smears. The established risk factors for childhood herpes zoster were only found in one child. Evidence for previous full-blown varicella and varicella with few lesions was recorded in 7 and 4 of the 17 immunocompetent children, respectively. No history of varicella was recalled in 6 of 17 cases, although a serologic clue of past varicella infection (IgM negative, IgG positive) was disclosed. Recurrent herpes zoster was diagnosed in one immunocompromised child. Zoster-associated pain was localized and the disease severity remained mild in all children. Established risk factors for childhood herpes zoster were only rarely found in our series of patients. In contrast, unrecognized varicella and varicella with few lesions were frequently recorded and may represent additional risk factors for shingles in childhood. Zosteriform herpes simplex virus infections should be differentiated from childhood herpes zoster, emphasizing the importance of precise viral identification