Cutaneous breast angiosarcoma after conserving treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy that sometimes occurs as a late sequela of breast conservation therapy. We report on a 79-year-old female who developed well-differentiated angiosarcoma in a lymphedematous left breast 5.5 years after surgery and radiotherapy for early invasive ductal breast cancer. The initial appearance was very similar to late radiation dermatitis, and histologically interpreted as scar tissue with atypical vascular lesion. The lesion progressed further, and was clinically suspicious for angiosarcoma. Thus, a second biopsy was taken which confirmed the diagnosis. A complete mastectomy removed all the tumor with clear margins. However, within a period of 16 months she presented four local recurrences which were treated by wide local excision. At present, the patient is free of locally recurrent tumour for 7 months. The few cases of breast angiosarcoma after breast conservation therapy reported so far demonstrate that these lesions are difficult to diagnose due to their rarity and their highly variable and benign appearance, which sometimes may mimic radiation-induced cutaneous changes. Since chronic lymphedema possibly contributes to the development of angiosarcoma, long-term clinical surveillance of these patients is recommended. Biopsies should be taken if new skin lesions occur.