Fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of angiosarcoma after breast-conserving therapy for carcinoma supported by use of a cell block and immunohistochemistry

Abstract

Background: Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor occurring at various sites as either a primary or secondary event. Primary angiosarcoma of the breast is an unusual tumor, counting for 1 in 1700-2,000 primary malignant tumors of this organ. An increasing number of secondary angiosarcomas involving skin and breast.

Case: Angiosarcoma arose 6 years after breast-conserving therapy for invasive carcinoma in a 69-year-old woman. Fine needle aspiration of several small, reddish, intradermal nodules over the treated area revealed malignant cells with an endothelial immunophenotype in the cel block, yielding the diagnosis of angiosarcoma, subsequently confired in a mastectomy speciman.

Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration, supported by ancillary techniques, such as cell block and immunohistochemistry, allows the cytologic diagnosis of an angiosarcoma and differentiates it from a carcinoma recurrence.