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[Case report of metastatic cutaneous angiosarcoma causing bilateral pneumothorax]
1First Department of Surgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Elderly patients with pneumothorax or hemothorax require careful evaluation to rule out metastatic angiosarcoma. Cystic lung lesions may indicate skin-originated angiosarcoma metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Dermatology
Background:
- A 72-year-old male presented with bilateral pneumothorax attributed to ruptured cystic lung lesions.
- The patient had a history of a scalp tumor, later diagnosed as cutaneous angiosarcoma.
Observation:
- Two months post-operation, the patient experienced recurrent intrathoracic bleeding.
- A scalp lesion was pathologically confirmed as cutaneous angiosarcoma.
- Pleural biopsy revealed metastatic angiosarcoma from the skin as the cause of bleeding.
Findings:
- The patient's multiple cystic lung lesions were identified as metastases of angiosarcoma.
- Pleural effusion and bleeding were directly linked to cutaneous angiosarcoma metastasis.
Implications:
- Pneumothorax and hemothorax in elderly individuals necessitate differentiation from primary or metastatic lung tumors.
- Cystic lung lesions should be considered a potential manifestation of metastatic angiosarcoma originating from the skin.
- This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing rare metastatic presentations.