Benign lymphangiomatous papules of the skin following radiotherapy: a report of five new cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this report is to summarize the clinicopathological findings of five cases of a pseudosarcomatous vascular proliferation of the skin at the site of radiotherapy following surgery for carcinoma of the breast and carcinoma of the endometrium. To our knowledge, only five cases of this presumably rare pseudomalignant proliferation have been reported previously.

Methods and results: All patients were females ranging in age from 44 to 70 years. The lesions appeared as solitary or multiple papules or vesicles localized to the field of radiation. Microscopically, they were composed of vascular spaces that exhibited atypical features without qualifying for a diagnosis of angiosarcoma.

Conclusions: Our cases provide additional evidence supporting the benign nature of this atypical vascular proliferation, not recurring, never developing metastases and being cured readily by local excision. Clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural findings suggest a lymphatic origin. Whether these lesions represent a neoplastic or a reactive condition secondary to radiotherapy is unclear. The name 'benign lymphangiomatous papules of the skin following radiotherapy' is proposed.