Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: report of nine cases.

BACKGROUND: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a benign vascular proliferation characterized by dermal or subcutaneous red or brown papules or nodules, most commonly on the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of ALHE, focusing particularly on the histological and therapeutic features.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all cases of ALHE diagnosed in our dermatology and pathology departments between 2004 and 2015.

RESULTS: Over 12 years, we collected nine cases of ALHE (0.75 case/year). There were four men and five women. The mean age was 43 years. Lesions presented as erythematous or violaceous papules or nodules in all cases, multiple in five cases, and localized on the head in eight cases or other sites in four cases. The diagnosis of ALHE was clinically suspected in only two cases. The histopathological findings showed an ill-circumscribed, intradermal slightly lobular proliferation of capillary-sized vessels around several central vessels. In all cases, the blood vessels were lined by large endothelial cells. An inflammatory infiltrate around the vessels was formed mainly of lymphocytes and eosinophils with isolated plasma cells and histiocytes. Surgery was the most common treatment in our series. Other local or general treatment has also been used with varying responses.

CONCLUSION: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare epithelioid vascular tumor with a challenging clinical and histological diagnosis. Despite its benign nature, ALHE causes a therapeutic dilemma.