A Case of a Refractory Bleeding Giant Vaginal Wall Cavernous Hemangioma Successfully Managed with Sclerotherapy

• Published in: The American journal of case reports 2023-04, Vol.24, p.e939474-e939474
• Main Authors: Fukuoka, Mari, Okumura, Toshiyuki, Hayashi, Ayato, Takeda, Natsumi, Koizumi, Akari, Ujihira, Takafumi, Makino, Shintaro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Female; Hemangioma - diagnosis; Hemangioma, Cavernous - complications; Hemangioma, Cavernous - diagnosis; Hemangioma, Cavernous - therapy; Humans; Sclerotherapy - methods; Uterine Hemorrhage - etiology; Uterine Hemorrhage - therapy; Vagina
• ISSN: 1941-5923; 1941-5923
• DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.939474

BACKGROUND Vaginal wall hemangiomas are extremely rare, benign, vascular tumors of the female genitalia. Most cases occur in childhood, but a few cases can be acquired; however, the mechanism of hemangioma formation remains unknown. Most hemangiomas involving female genital organs are small and asymptomatic. However, huge hemangiomas can cause irregular genital bleeding, infertility, and miscarriage. Surgical excision and embolization are the most common treatment options. We reveal that sclerotherapy achieved good outcomes in a patient with an intractable huge vaginal wall hemangioma. CASE REPORT A 71-year-old woman visited a local doctor with concerns of frequent urination. A ring pessary was inserted after a diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse. However, symptoms did not improve, and the patient consulted another hospital. The previous physician diagnosed vaginal wall tumors and prolapse and performed a colporrhaphy. However, she was referred to our hospital with heavy intraoperative bleeding. Imaging examination revealed a huge hemangioma on the vaginal wall, which was histologically diagnosed as a cavernous hemangioma. Angiography revealed hemorrhage in the right peripheral vaginal artery. Owing to concerns regarding extensive vaginal wall necrosis caused by arterial embolization, sclerotherapy using monoethanolamine oleate was selected. Hemostasis was achieved 1 month after sclerotherapy, and postoperative imaging showed the lesion had shrunk in size. No recurrence of hemangioma was observed 19 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS We report a case of a large vaginal wall intractable bleeding hemangioma. Sclerotherapy can be a suitable treatment option for large vaginal hemangiomas that are too extensive to be treated using surgery or arterial embolization.