The utility of GLUT1 as a diagnostic marker in cutaneous vascular anomalies: A review of literature and recommendations for daily practice

Objective: To assess the utility of GLUT1 as an immunohistochemical marker in the diagnostics of cutaneous vascular anomalies.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for studies on GLUT1 staining patterns in cutaneous vascular lesions. Data was grouped according to the latest ISSVA classification for vascular anomalies.

Results: Vascular tumors: GLUT1 staining was positive in 368/386 (95%) of infantile hemangiomas. Congenital hemangiomas (16 cases) and kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas (62 cases) were all negative for GLUT1. Angiosarcomas were GLUT1 positive in 12/39 (31%) and epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas in 2/27 (7%) of cases. Vascular malformations: All vascular malformations (33 arteriovenous malformations, 16 capillary malformations, 64 lymphatic malformations, 54 venous malformations, 3 venous-lymphatic malformations and 3 capillary venous-lymphatic malformations) were negative for GLUT1 staining. Unclassified vascular anomalies: Angiokeratomas were GLUT1 positive in 1/15 (7%) and verrucous hemangiomas in 71/100 (71%) of cases. Microvenular hemangiomas were negative for GLUT1 in all 9 cases.

Conclusions: GLUT1 can be used as an additional diagnostic tool in cutaneous vascular lesions. A negative GLUT1 stain renders a diagnosis of infantile hemangioma unlikely. A positive GLUT1 stain excludes vascular malformations and is suggestive of infantile hemangioma. One must be cautious, however, that the final diagnosis is made through interpretation of all clinical and diagnostic features, and not based on GLUT1 staining alone.