Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy that sometimes occurs as a late
sequela of breast conservation therapy. We report on a 79-year-old female
who developed well-differentiated angiosarcoma. in a lymphedematous left br
east 5.5 years after surgery and radiotherapy for early invasive ductal bre
ast cancer. The initial appearance was very similar to late radiation derma
titis, and histologically interpreted as scar tissue with atypical vascular
lesion. The lesion progressed further, and was clinically suspicious for a
ngiosarcoma. Thus, a second biopsy was taken which confirmed the diagnosis.
A complete mastectomy removed all the tumor with clear margins. However, w
ithin a period of 16 months she presented four local recurrences which were
treated by wide local excision. At present, the patient is free of locally
recurrent tumour for 7 months. The few cases of breast angiosarcoma after
breast conservation therapy reported so far demonstrate that these lesions
are difficult to diagnose due to their rarity and their highly variable and
benign appearance, which sometimes may mimic radiation-induced cutaneous c
hanges. Since chronic lymphedema possibly contributes to the development of
angiosarcoma, long-term clinical surveillance of these patients is recomme
nded. Biopsies should be taken if new skin lesions occur.