Cherry angiomas (also known as Campbell de Morgan spots) are common benigntumours found in older adults. Frequency increases with age. They can appear anywhere on the body as small papules ranging in colour from red to dark purple.
Histology of cherry angioma
Cherry angioma specimens are polypoid and often have an epidermal collarette. The overlying epidermis is atrophic in established lesions. Within the superficial dermis the tumour is composed of dilated interconnecting capillaries (Figure 1).
Figure 1
Differential diagnosis of cherry angioma
Histologically, there may be some similarities with lobular capillaryhaemangioma (pyogenicgranuloma). However, capillaries here are arranged in a more prominent lobular formation, less dilated and often display endothelial cell cytological atypia and numerous mitoses not seen in cherry angioma. Inflammatoryinfiltrate and ulceration are additional features of lobular capillary haemangioma.
References
Weedon’s Skin Pathology (Third edition, 2010). David Weedon
Pathology of the Skin (Fourth edition, 2012). McKee PH, J. Calonje JE, Granter SR
