Recurrent epithelioid hemangioma: therapeutic potential of tranilast and indomethacin

Epithelioid hemangioma (EH), also known as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, is a benign vascular proliferation of unknown etiology that was firstly described in 1969 [1]. It typically affects the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the head and neck, but it uncommonly arises in other sites. Although this tumor is classified as a benign vascular tumor in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification published in 2002 [2], local recurrence is reported to occur in up to one-third of patients [3]. Complete excision and intensive follow up are thought to be optimum management for EH and no other treatment modalities are established [3]. We report a case with recurrent epithelioid hemangioma who underwent pharmacological treatment combined with tranilast and indomethacin and showed marked regression almost completely. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the potency of combined tranilast and indomethacin drug therapy.