Angiosarcoma in Chronic Filarial Lymphedema - A Report of Two Cases

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is an uncommon aggressive tumor known to arise in chronic lymphedema of various etiologies with post mastectomy lymphedema being the most common cause also known as Stewart-Treves syndrome. Chronic filarial lymphedema is the most uncommon etiology for development of angiosarcoma.

We describe two cases of angiosarcoma developing in a setting of long-standing filarial lymphedema. The patient presented with the same clinical features of rapidly progressing nodules.

With India harboring most of the filarial load, this scenario should be kept in mind by clinicians for early diagnosis and treatment. Angiosarcoma is a rapidly progressing tumor and is fatal; hence, an idea about its diagnosis is of utmost importance.