Primary mediastinal angiosarcoma: a rare observation in a patient with 8-year-survival

Vascular tumours of the mediastinum are rare, accounting for 1-2% of all mediastinal tumours in this location. Angiosarcomas are most often encountered as sporadic lesions, typically in the scalp or face of elderly patients. However, they can occur in any anatomic site. Mediastinal angiosarcomas (MA) are very rare with less than 50 cases reported.

The authors describe the case of a 38-year-old woman whose past medical history was consistent for a MA that was diagnosed in 2003. This tumour was treated by complete surgical resection followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Diagnosis was based on histologic examination. In 2011, the patient presented a pleural localisation of the angiosarcoma and died one month after admission, 8 years after diagnosis of the MA.

MA is a very rare tumour causing a diagnostic dilemma. Clinical and radiologic findings are non-specific, and final diagnosis is based on histologic examination. The case described is unusual considering the long period of survival, which may be explained by the treatment modalities associating complete surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.