Benefits of the Multidisciplinary Approach After Curative Surgery for the Treatment of Scalp Angiosarcoma

Patients with scalp angiosarcoma still present with a dismal prognosis, indicating the need for a multidisciplinary approach. The present study aimed to investigate the treatment outcomes of scalp angiosarcoma with a focus on the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, performed in either an adjuvant or palliative setting, after curative surgical treatment.

Patients with scalp angiosarcoma without evidence of systemic metastasis who were treated with curative ablative surgery between 2008 and 2018 were assessed. Oncologic outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), were evaluated.

A total of 23 patients were analyzed. All patients underwent radical resection, most of whom (82.6%) achieved R0 resection. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (all taxane-based) were delivered for 11 and 3 patients, respectively. Recurrence developed in 17 (73.9%) of 23 patients during a mean follow-up period of 18.4 months. The overall 2-year RFS and OS were 15.5% and 44.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were associated with a significantly low risk of recurrence. In 17 patients with recurrence, those receiving palliative radiotherapy or chemotherapy had significantly higher OS than those not receiving any treatments. Compared with patients treated during the first half of the study period, those treated during the latter part, who received adjuvant and palliative radiotherapy or chemotherapy more frequently, had significantly favorable OS, with a 2-year OS of 77.8%.

A multidisciplinary approach using radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy combined with curative resection might be associated with better oncologic outcomes in patients with scalp angiosarcoma.