[Stewart-Treves syndrome after breast carcinoma]

The Stewart-Treves syndrome is an angiosarcoma that occurs due to chronic lymphoedema which in most cases is a complication after mastectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation. Prognosis for this rare tumour is poor. The best therapy is early and radical excision. Chronic lymphoedema seems to be an important pathogenetic factor. We report on a 70-year old patient with early stage lymphangiosarcoma who had a lumpectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation five years ago.