Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma of the Foot

Abstract

We describe the case of an 18-year-old male Army reservist presenting with left lower extremity pain for which he was initially diagnosed with a stress injury. After failing conservative treatment, a radiograph was obtained showing a "lacelike" appearance of the medullary bone in the foot and ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging subsequently demonstrated widespread polyostotic marrow replacement with coarsened trabeculations. A biopsy was obtained which diagnosed the patient with polyostotic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma which is the most common malignant vascular tumor of bone. The patient ultimately underwent a below the knee amputation once computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis excluded distant metastatic disease. It is important for radiologists to be aware of this diagnosis because osseous epithelioid hemangioendothelioma can present like a stress injury and be mistaken for a less serious diagnosis while potentially having visceral involvement.