Masson’s Tumour - Case Report of a Malignant Masquerader with Literature Review

Abstract

Masson’s tumour, an uncommon, benign vascular disorder was first described by Pierre Masson in 1923 as an intravascular papillary proliferation that emerged from an inflamed hemorrhoidal vein of a 68-year-old man and termed it as “Hemangioendotheliome vegetant intravasculaire”.1 He interpreted the lesion as a form of neoplasm, however, Henschen portrayed it as a reactive phenomenon. The current terminology intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) was put forward by Clearkin and Enzinger in 1976 considering it as a reactive change occurring secondary to trauma-related vascular stasis.2 The tumour constitutes 2-4 % of all skin and soft tissue tumours. The common locations are head, neck and extremities.3 Masson’s tumour being a benign entity with an excellent prognosis is essential to differentiate from its closer mimic, angiosarcoma which needs aggressive treatment. This case is put up here because of its rarity and its clinical implications.