[Rapidly progressing course of cutaneous angiosarcoma in the area of the head-neck]

Angiosarcomas are rare, aggressive tumors of vascular origin, most commonly affecting older males. An optimum treatment strategy has not yet been defined.

We report on a 68-year-old male patient who initially presented with a small, bruise-like macule of the cheek. He was treated with different antibiotics and steroids for a few weeks. Due to failure of any clinical improvement, a biopsy was taken revealing an undifferentiated malignant tumor. Subsequently, the patient was referred to our department, where the lesion was excised. Histology showed an extensive, well-differentiated angiosarcoma. According to oncological protocols, the patient underwent 5 cycles of chemotherapy with etoposid, ifosphamid and adriamycine. Despite therapy, tumor size remained unchanged. After therapy was discontinued, tumor growth rapidly proceeded with semicircular infiltration of the right face and neck. A few weeks later the patient died.

About 50 percent of cutaneous angiosarcomas are found in the head and neck region of the elderly. No clear etiology has been implicated with respect to the origin of this tumor. Traumatic bruises, infections, and allergic reaction may be confused clinically with angiosarcoma. Differential diagnosis also comprises other vascular neoplastic diseases, i.e. lymphangioma, hemangiopericytoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. If complete excision is possible, radical surgery is the treatment of choice. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is unclear. The role of radiation therapy is also under discussion due to the technical problems of administering radiotherapy to the extensive volume at risk. As the late diagnosis adversely affects the prognosis, the importance of early biopsy in suspicious lesions is mandatory.