Postirradiation angiosarcoma of the chest wall and breast: Issues of radiogenic origin, diagnosis and treatment in two cases

The authors report two cases of postradiation angiosarcoma (AS) among 5,100 breast cancer patients treated in the period 1980-1994 at the National Ins titute of Oncology, Budapest. Relevant data in the literature is also revie wed to analyze the questions of radiogenic origin, diagnosis and treatment. Secondary AS occurred in these cases in a previously irradiated field afte r a 6- and 8-year latency period, respectively. Detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations from the biopsy specimens confirmed th e diagnosis as AS. The first patient was treated successfully with radical surgery. The second patient, with unresectable AS, died of rapid local prog ression within 4 months. The incidence of chest wall and breast AS after ra diotherapy was found to be 0.46 per 1,000 in our patient population, which means an estimated odds ratio of 2.9 for secondary AS. Patients treated wit h radiotherapy for primary breast cancer are at higher risk for developing secondary AS compared to the healthy population. An etiological relationshi p between radiotherapy and subsequent AS of the chest wall and breast is li kely, but still controversial. Initial radical surgery is the only effectiv e treatment for achieving long-term survival. These very rare cases deserve special attention due to the atypical clinical appearance, difficulties of differential diagnosis and poor prognosis. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG , Basel.