Haemangiopericytoma
Pronunciation: hee-MAN-jee-oh-PEH-rih-sy-TOH-mah
Also written as: HPC — Haemangiopericytoma
A vascular neoplasm formerly classified as a distinct entity but now largely reclassified under the solitary fibrous tumour spectrum in the head and neck.
Full Definition
Haemangiopericytoma (HPC) was historically described as a tumour of pericytic differentiation characterised by a 'staghorn' vascular pattern on histology. In contemporary WHO classification, most lesions previously called HPC in the head and neck are reclassified as solitary fibrous tumour (SFT), which shares the same STAT6 immunohistochemical marker due to NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion. Editors reviewing manuscripts using 'haemangiopericytoma' as a standalone diagnosis should flag this as potentially outdated terminology requiring author clarification. Sinonasal haemangiopericytoma (glomangiopericytoma) remains a distinct entity from this reclassification.
Usage
Usage note: Flag as obsolete for most head and neck contexts; confirm whether the author intends sinonasal glomangiopericytoma before substituting terminology.
In Context
- "The pathologist noted that the lesion previously reported as haemangiopericytoma would now be classified as solitary fibrous tumour under current WHO criteria." — Amended pathology report
- "Editors should query use of 'haemangiopericytoma' in contemporary manuscripts unless it refers specifically to the sinonasal glomangiopericytoma variant." — Journal editorial guideline