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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
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Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
911
Thyroid angiosarcoma: a comprehensive review.
Giorgia Arcovito1, Alessandro Franchi1
1Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology
|December 19, 2025
Summary
Thyroid angiosarcoma (TAS) is a rare and aggressive vascular tumor. Further research is needed to understand its molecular features and improve therapeutic strategies for this challenging cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Genetics
Background:
- Thyroid angiosarcoma (TAS) is an aggressive vascular neoplasm, representing 20% of thyroid mesenchymal tumors.
- TAS predominantly affects elderly individuals and is often associated with long-standing goiter, particularly in iodine-deficient regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinicopathological and genetic features of thyroid angiosarcoma.
- To highlight diagnostic challenges and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Review of histological and immunohistochemical findings.
- Analysis of genetic alterations and molecular pathways involved in TAS.
- Comparison with similar entities like angiomatoid anaplastic carcinoma.
Main Results:
- TAS exhibits epithelioid cells with severe pleomorphism, vascular spaces, fibrotic stroma, hemosiderin, and necrosis.
- Immunohistochemistry shows positivity for CD31, ERG, factor VIII, and often cytokeratin; PAX8 and TTF-1 are negative.
- Genetic analysis reveals impairment in angiogenesis, proliferation, and survival genes (e.g., MYC, KDR) and dysregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAP kinase pathways.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of TAS requires careful integration of histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular data.
- Understanding the genetic landscape of TAS is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Further molecular investigations are essential to fully characterize TAS and improve patient outcomes.
