[Angiosarcoma following breast-conserving therapy]

Two women with breast cancer, 59 and 72 years of age, were treated by means of breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy. At the age of 66 and 77, respectively, discolouration of the skin was seen in the treated breast. Punch biopsy did not show secondary malignancy. Diagnostic (deeper) excisional biopsy revealed angiosarcoma. Ablation of the breast was performed in both patients. The younger woman, however, had a recurrence four months later that was treated with wide local excision and omentum-plasty. The older woman died two years after the ablation as a result of haematogenous metastases. Knowledge of the symptoms and diagnostic pitfalls of radiotherapy-induced angiosarcoma after breast-conserving treatment is important in the follow-up of breast-cancer patients. Histological diagnosis of a biopsy taken at sufficient depth is indicated when a secondary angiosarcoma is suspected.