MALIGNANT HEMANGIOPERICYTOMA OF THE STOMACH

Hemangiopericytoma is a vascular tumor originating from the pericytes which surround the capillaries. The tumor occurs anywhere in the body preferably at head and neck and the extremities. In less than 3% it grows in the stomach. In spite of surgical excision local recurrence or hematogene metastases must be expected. We report a case of primary hemangiopericytoma of the stomach which could only be diagnosed by metachrone liver metastases. This case shows that hemangiopericytomas and their metastases belong to the differential diagnosis of cystic liver lesions. Diagnostic procedure, therapy and prognosis of this rare tumor is discussed by an analysis of the literature.