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Published on: May 17, 2024
Breast angiosarcoma secondary to phyllodes tumour.
Sílvia Costa1, Susana Alexandra Rodrigues Graça, António Ferreira
1Department of General Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Gaia, Portugal. sisse.costa@gmail.com
BMJ Case Reports
|December 5, 2012
Summary
This case study highlights a rare breast angiosarcoma in an elderly woman initially diagnosed with a phyllodes tumor. The angiosarcoma presented as a large, ulcerated mass, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for rare breast cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Angiosarcomas are rare vascular endothelial cell tumors, comprising 0.04% of breast malignancies.
- Breast angiosarcomas (BAs) can be primary (younger women, palpable mass) or secondary (older patients, post-radiotherapy rash).
Observation:
- An 83-year-old woman presented with a breast nodule initially diagnosed as a phyllodes tumor.
- The patient refused initial surgery; two years later, she returned with a significantly enlarged, ulcerated breast mass.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination revealed a high-grade angiosarcoma measuring 15x12 cm.
- The patient underwent mastectomy with local skin flaps, followed by radiotherapy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic challenges and aggressive nature of angiosarcomas, even when initially misdiagnosed.
- Successful management involved radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, leading to no evidence of recurrence.
