[Angioplastic sarcoma of facial skin]

Report on a 77 year old man with angiosarcoma of the face. Characteristic features were the diffuse onset with indurated pale violaceous erythematous swelling of the face, followed by an ulceration and secondary infection, as well as the infiltration of the parotid and the absence of metastases. Histologically seemingly benign haemangiomatous capillary-like structures were found in the periphery of the tumor and richly cellular solid sarcomatous proliferations in the centre. The palliative X-ray treatment did not alter tumor progression. Early radical resection is recommended as the therapy of choice. It does, however, not prevent the downhill course of the disease in most cases. Clinical features and natural history of angiosarcoma of the face and scalp were reviewed for six patients.