Thrombosed Cherry Hemangioma

Referral for biopsy was made because a 6-mm, red and black, dome-shaped papule on a 43-year-old woman's left groin resembled a melanoma. The patient had numerous cherry hemangiomas on her trunk-bright red, 2- to 5-mm papules that are among the most common vascular anomalies. Trauma may occasionally cause one to bleed; infrequently, this produces thrombosis and an appearance that mimics melanoma. Such a lesion should always undergo biopsy and examination.

Based on the many cherry hemangiomas present on this patient's body, it was anticipated that the lesion in question was a thrombosed hemangioma. Thus, a deep shave biopsy was deemed adequate, rather than an excisional or a punch biopsy. The diagnosis was, as expected, a thrombosed hemangioma. This slide was sent by Drs Eric J. Lewis and Charles E. Crutchfield III of Minneapolis.