Introduction
Relatively rare malignant tumors derived from the internal lining of blood vessels or lymphatic vessels.
Unlike primary, confined to the skin.
Cutaneous angiosarcoma – a.k.a. Stewart-Treves syndrome.
Epidemiology
Risk factors
Localized radiation therapy – strongest risk factor
Chronic axillary lymphedema, often precipitated by surgical LND
Histopathology
Histopathologically, infiltration of the dermis with slit-like abnormal vascular spaces.
Clinical manifestations
- Multiple ecchymoses or purpuric masses on the skin of the breast, axilla, or upper arm
- 4-8 years following completion of breast cancer therapy.
- Metastasis
- As with most sarcomas, early hematologic metastasis is common.
Management
When possible, surgical resection is potentially curative.
Prognosis is poor b/c the tumor is usually widespread by the time of diagnosis.
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