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Hemangiopericytoma in Humans

Hemangiopericytoma, or HPC, is a form of cancer. When the tumors develop in humans, they usually form from pericytes, part of the outer layer of capillaries. While hemangiopericytomas in humans can spontaneously regress, when medical intervention is required the treatment can be serious and involved.

  1. The Facts

    • Hemangiopericytoma in humans is a rare vascular tumor that occurs in both infants and adults. Classified as a soft tissue sarcoma, it can be either benign or malignant. A hemangiopericytoma most often develops in muscle tissue in the head, neck, pelvis or lower limbs. Malignant tumors can metastasize and spread quickly throughout a person's body, especially to the lungs. A patient's prognosis depends on the size and location of the tumor and whether or not it has begun to spread.

    Causes

    • The causes of hemangiopericytomas in humans are still under investigation. When a hemangiopericytoma develops in a child, it is sometimes considered to be congenital. In some families, several members of a generation all have the tumors. There might be a link between developing hemangiopericytoma and a tendency to develop other cancers.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of a hemangiopericytoma depend on the tumor's size and location. Tumors that develop in the chest can cause difficulty breathing, pain and coughing. If a tumor develops in a patient's abdomen it can cause intestinal or urinary problems. Hemangiopericytomas can secrete a growth factor that resembles insulin. When this happens, hypoglycemia is a symptom. Night sweats, pain, and difficulty walking are also potential symptoms of hemangiopericytoma in humans.

    Treatment

    • A doctor will recommend treatment for a hemangiopericytoma based on whether the tumor is benign or malignant and at what stage it is classified. Surgery to remove the tumor can involve removing the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. In severe cases, a patient's limb may be amputated to be sure the whole tumor is removed. Radiation therapy is rarely used on its own for this type of cancer. It is more commonly combined with surgery. Chemotherapy is a treatment option if the hemangiopericytoma is malignant.

    Considerations

    • Hemangiopericytomas present differently in adults than in children so the symptoms, the cause and the treatments that work best for them can be dissimilar. Children often experience better results with chemotherapy than adults. Because hemangiopericytomas occur so rarely in humans, large-scale studies of treatment options have not been performed.

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