A case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia arising in the upper lip

A rare case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) arising in the upperlip is reported. A 83-year-old woman noticed a mass in the upper lip, which gradually grewand became tender. The patient presented at our hospital. Initial examination showed a mass with a black central area surrounded by a whitish band and a raised, rolled margin. The tumor, clinically suspected to be a malignant melanoma, was excised without biopsy. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations indicated that the lesion was IPEH. The diagnosis was based on characteristic findings such as papillary endothelial growth within vascular space, few mitotic figures and endothelial cell dysplasia. The patient is well with noevidence of recurrence.