Cutaneous angiosarcoma arising in the radiation site of a congenital hemangioma

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine (EBM) techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQs) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for literature searches were set for each CQ and literature published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (JCRM). The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System (MINDS) technique. A total of 33 CQs were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety and systematizing treatment, employing evidence‐based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQ) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for published work searches were set for each CQ, and work published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina databases. The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System technique. A total of 33 CQ were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence‐based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine (EBM) techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQs) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for literature searches were set for each CQ and literature published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (JCRM). The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System (MINDS) technique. A total of 33 CQs were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

Two Cases of Angiosarcoma of the Face

Angiosarcoma is a rare vascular malignant tumor most commonly seen on the scalp of elderly people. We report here two cases of angiosarcoma of the face in 74- and 75-year-old males. It is very unusual to find the development of an angiosarcoma with a rosacea on the face. To the best of our knowledge, only three such cases have been reported.

Primary angiosarcoma of the testis: report of a rare entity and review of the literature

Background

Primary testicular angiosarcomas are extremely rare, and their clinicopathologic features are not well described. Our objective was to further define the clinical features and pathologic spectra of primary testicular angiosarcomas.

Methods

Six previously reported case reports were identified in the English language medical literature using MEDLINE and a subsequent bibliographic search of all pertinent reports and reviews was performed. After excluding 2 cases because they did not involve the testis, we identified 4 previously reported cases of true primary testicular angiosarcoma. We also searched the electronic medical archival records of our institution and identified one additional unreported case of true primary testicular angiosarcomas. Data were extracted on the demographics, predisposing factors, clinical presentation, gross pathology, microscopic pathology, immunophenotype, therapy, and outcomes of each of these 5 cases of true primary testicular angiosarcomas.

Results

Primary testicular angiosarcomas were found at a mean age of 43.4 years. None of the cases was associated with exposure to radiation, arsenic, thorium dioxide, or vinyl chloride. However, 1 case was associated with hydrocele. It typically presented with painless mass (mean size, 6.3 cm). Histologically, all showed classic anastomosing channels lined by plump hyperchromatic cells, though most showed epithelioid cytology and some showed solid architectural pattern. One patient had multiple metastatic recurrences but eventual outcome was not available, and 1 patient died a month after diagnosis from stroke but no autopsy was performed. The remaining 3 patients were alive at the time of publication of their respective cases (mean, 17 months).

Conclusion

Primary testicular angiosarcomas are typically rare tumors of men of all ages that appear to segregate into 2 groups; one associated with teratoma and occurring in young people, and the other occurring in the elderly and not associated with germ cell neoplasm, but may be associated with chronic hydrocele. They present with advanced disease and show a wide histologic spectrum. However, their prognosis may be better than previously thought.

Postradiation vascular proliferations: an increasing problem

The occurrence of cutaneous vascular lesions is a rare but well-documented complication of radiation treatment and may be associated with significant morbidity as well as mortality. The overall incidence is low but appears to be rising due to a change in the prevailing treatment of breast carcinoma with increased use of radiation in the setting of breast-conserving therapy for stage 1 and 2 disease. The spectrum of postradiation vascular lesions is wide and ranges from atypical vascular lesions with reportedly benign clinical behaviour to frank cutaneous angiosarcoma. There is, however, significant clinical as well as histological overlap. It is frequently difficult to classify these postradiation vascular lesions accurately and they create an emerging diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to both pathologists and clinicians. Experience with these vascular lesions is very limited, and this article aims to provide an overview of our current understanding and concept of radiation-associated vascular lesions with focus on their clinical and histological presentation as well as behaviour and treatment.

Stewart–Treves syndrome—treatment and outcome in six patients from a single centre

AIMS

Stewart-Treves syndrome is an angiosarcoma associated with long-standing lymphoedema, most commonly seen as a rare complication of breast cancer treatment, and is associated with a poor outcome. We present results from six patients supporting the use of early radical surgery to improve prognosis.

METHODS

Six patients with Stewart-Treves syndrome were diagnosed and treated at our centre over an 11-year period. Five patients had forequarter amputation and the sixth had a through-hip amputation.

RESULTS

Four of the six patients are alive and well following surgery (at 3, 16, 23, and 135 months after amputation); one patient died from metastatic disease at 15 months and the second died due to an unrelated malignancy.

CONCLUSION

Early diagnosis and treatment by radical ablative surgery confers a reasonable prognosis with this rare but aggressive disease. A nihilistic approach is unjustified.

Angiosarcoma in a Chronically Lymphedematous Leg: An Unusual Presentation of Stewart-Treves Syndrome

Angiosarcoma arising from chronic lymphedema is referred to as Stewart-Treves syndrome. It typically occurs as a complication of long-lasting lymphedema of the arm after mastectomy and/or radiotherapy for breast cancer. Angiosarcoma associated with idiopathic lymphedema of the lower extremity is extremely rare. We report a case of diffuse angiosarcoma of the leg in a patient with a 25-year history of idiopathic lymphedema. Despite rapid aggressive surgical treatment, the patient died 6 weeks after diagnosis.

Angiosarcoma arising in hemangioma/vascular malformation: report of four cases and review of the literature

Malignant change in a benign vascular tumor is exceedingly rare, and there have been only five previously reported convincing cases. Four new cases of angiosarcoma (AS) arising in a hemangioma/vascular malformation (HVM) are described. All patients were in the 6th or 7th decade of life (two female, two male). Development of an enlarging deep-seated mass was the main presenting symptom. MRI disclosed the presence of two separate soft tissue masses in both thighs in one patient. No patient had a history of prior radiotherapy at the same site. Preoperative duration, known in three cases, ranged from 1 to 24 months (median 12 months). Three tumors were located in the lower extremities (thigh and buttock), one in the retroperitoneum, and one in the parotid region. Three patients were treated by marginal excision; in one case only a biopsy was performed. Radiotherapy/chemotherapy was given in all cases. Two patients were disease free 2 and 14 months after surgery and two developed metastases. Grossly, the tumors were described as frankly hemorrhagic masses or as firm, whitish areas with hemorrhagic nodules and were centered in skeletal muscle in three cases. Size ranged between 2.2 cm and 8 cm (median 4.3 cm). Histologically, all the tumors had two distinct components. In three cases the benign and the malignant components were variably intermixed, whereas in one case the HVM was mainly located at the edge of the malignant tumor. The benign component showed features of an arteriovenous hemangioma (three cases) or intramuscular capillary hemangioma. AS showed epithelioid morphology in three cases and a well-differentiated dissecting pattern in one case. An imperceptible transition between the two components was noted in two cases. The two anatomically separate masses excised from one patient appeared almost identical. All cases were positive for at least two endothelial markers (CD31, CD34, VWF) and negative for the epithelial markers (EMA, AE1/AE3, Pan-keratin). Possible mechanisms for this exceptional phenomenon are discussed.

Vascular anomalies: hemangiomas

Mulliken and Glowacki categorized vascular anomalies as either hemangiomas or malformations, with the former being the most common tumor of infancy. Despite distinct clinical, radiologic, and histologic findings, the two major types of vascular lesions are often confused. This complicates both patient care and interpretation of the medical literature. A thorough understanding of the presentation, natural history, treatment, and complications of vascular tumors (hemangiomas) and vascular malformations is essential to their proper management. A comprehensive review outlining the diagnosis and treatment of hemangiomas in presented.

Postirradiation Multiple Minute Digitate Porokeratosis

Background:

Development of multiple minute digitate hyperkeratoses (MMDH) after irradiation has been reported previously. The keratotic lesions in these cases were confined within the irradiation field, and histopathological examination disclosed a focal column of parakeratosis (cornoid lamella) arising from an epidermis devoid of granular layer.

Objective:

We describe a 78-year-old woman who developed multiple, discrete, tiny, filiform, keratotic papules on the anterior aspect of the right chest wall, 13 months after postmastectomy cobalt irradiation therapy for mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Conclusion:

Postirradiation MMDH represents a peculiar radiation-induced disorder that we believe should be distinguished from other cases of MMDH and included within the spectrum of porokeratosis.

Postirradiation multiple minute digitate porokeratosis

BACKGROUND

Development of multiple minute digitate hyperkeratoses (MMDH) after irradiation has been reported previously. The keratotic lesions in these cases were confined within the irradiation field, and histopathological examination disclosed a focal column of parakeratosis (cornoid lamella) arising from an epidermis devoid of granular layer.

OBJECTIVE

We describe a 78-year-old woman who developed multiple, discrete, tiny, filiform, keratotic papules on the anterior aspect of the right chest wall, 13 months after postmastectomy cobalt irradiation therapy for mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Postirradiation MMDH represents a peculiar radiation-induced disorder that we believe should be distinguished from other cases of MMDH and included within the spectrum of porokeratosis.

Stepwise multimodal approach in the treatment of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to evalutate the various treatment modalities for Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) and to identify the most reliable treatment modalities.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 37 KMS patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital between January 1979 and June 1999. Age, sex, locations of the hemangiomas, clinical symptoms and hematologic data were analyzed by multivariate logistical regression analysis to determine the response to various treatment modalities.

RESULTS

Twenty-four of 37 patients (20 boys and 17 girls) were diagnosed during infancy. The locations of hemangioma were superficial skin in 31 patients, combined skin and visceral organs in four patients and visceral organs only in two patients. Tumor size was more than 5 cm in diameter in all cases, except for one. The treatment principle of KMS in our center involves a stepwise multimodal approach. Of the 37 cases, surgical resection was performed in two. Steroids were tried initially in 35 patients over a 1 week period, with an initial response rate of 11.4% (4/35). Combined steroid/radiation treatment was given in 28 cases, with a response rate of 75.0% (21/28). Four of five patients with additional interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy improved. No significant correlations were found between the prognostic factors, such as age, sex, size and locations of the hemangioma, hematologic data and the treatment modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the experiences in a single center over a period of 20 years, we recommend a stepwise multimodal approach for the treatment of KMS; for example, steroid, radiation therapy and IFN-alpha in this order. However, surgical treatment is helpful if total resection is possible.

Eradication of metastatic angiosarcoma of the lower extremity. Case report

A 47-year-old man with an angiosarcoma of the right lower extremity was cured with mainly surgery and radiotherapy despite an inguinal metastasis. Histologically, the amputation stump of the metastatic tumour showed invasion by tumour. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and treatment with interleukin-2 was added. Ten years later he has had no recurrence.

Successful treatment of angiosarcoma of the scalp by intralesional cytokine therapy and surface irradiation

An 88-year-old woman presented to us with angiosarcoma of the scalp that had developed over a 6-month period following previous trauma. Despite explicit information concerning the extremely malignant potential of the tumour the patient refused any surgical intervention. However, she agreed to receive local, intralesional interferon alpha-2b and interleukin-2 therapy. After partial remission of the tumour, the intralesional cytokine injections were combined with surface radiotherapy. This combination therapy led to a 2-year remission of both the tumour and sonographically suspicious cervical lymph nodes. Apart from the typical, moderate side-effects of interferon alpha-2b and interleukin-2 the therapy was well tolerated. In conclusion, in our limited experience intralesional cytokine therapy--alone as well as in combination with surface irradiation--seems to be an alternative therapeutic option for patients who is not a candidate for surgery.

Overexpression of VEGF 121 in immortalized endothelial cells causes conversion to slowly growing angiosarcoma and high level expression of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in vivo

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF or vascular permeability factor) is an important angiogenic factor that is up-regulated in numerous benign and malignant disorders, including angiosarcoma, hemangiomas, and solid tumors. To determine the functional role of VEGF in the development of endothelial tumors, we expressed primate VEGF 121 in an endothelial cell line, MS1, derived from primary murine cells by immortalization with a temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen. This cell line expresses the VEGFR-2 (Flk-1/Kdr) receptor for VEGF. Expression of VEGF 121 led to the development of slowly growing endothelial tumors, which were histologically well-differentiated angiosarcomas. The angiosarcomas generated from MS1 VEGF cells demonstrated up-regulation of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) in vivo compared with benign hemangiomas generated from MS1 cells. Treatment of these cells with the VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU 1498 led to decreased expression of ets-1, a transcription factor which has been shown to be stimulated by VEGF. These results suggest that high level expression of VEGF in endothelial cells may result in malignant transformation. This transformation process likely involves both autocrine and paracrine pathways.

The infant with a vascular tumor

Vascular birthmarks look alike in various tints of blue, pink, or red. These anomalies are either vascular tumors or vascular malformations. Hemangioma is the most common vascular tumor of infancy, typically appearing in the neonatal period. Hemangiomas grow rapidly during the first year of life and regress slowly during childhood. Treatment is indicated for problematic or endangering hemangiomas, usually the administration of corticosteroids or interferon-alfa, and in some instances, embolization or surgical resection. The more aggressive and rare vascular tumors, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma, are often associated with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy (Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon) and less responsive to pharmacological therapy. Vascular tumors, particularly hemangioma, are often confused with vascular malformations; although etiology, histology, and clinical behavior are quite different. Vascular lesions should be biopsied if there is any suspicion of malignancy.

Chronic lymphoedema and angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma has frequently been described arising within chronic lymphoedema of the upper limb following mastectomy and radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast. We report a case of angiosarcoma arising in a lymphoedematous leg that had been subjected to radiotherapy 20 years previously for Hodgkin's disease. The diagnosis was expedited once the patient noticed the development of bleeding nodules. Prognosis of angiosarcoma is poor with treatment options being wide-excision surgery, palliative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Unusual bruised areas or bleeding nodules developing within chronic lymphoedematous limbs should be biopsied to exclude the diagnosis.

Unusual cutaneous malignancies

The most commonly occurring cutaneous malignancies are basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. There are, however, other rare malignancies that are encountered and should be included in the differential, in which both the clinical and the histological diagnosis may be difficult. Here, the clinical and histological features, management, and prognostic factors of merkel cell carcinoma, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and angiosarcoma are reviewed.

Cutaneous vascular proliferations. Part III. Malignant neoplasms, other cutaneous neoplasms with significant vascular component, and disorders erroneously considered as vascular neoplasms

In this third and last part of our review of cutaneous vascular proliferations we include malignant vascular neoplasms and a group of heterogeneous cutaneous neoplasms characterized by a significant vascular component. We also review some disorders that, in our opinion, have been erroneously considered as vascular neoplasms. We review the epidemiologic, histogenetic, clinical, and histopathologic aspects of Kaposi's sarcoma in its four distinctive variants (classic, African-endemic, immunosuppressive drug-associated, and AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma). There is still controversy about whether Kaposi's sarcoma represents a reactive vascular proliferation or a true neoplastic proliferation. In any event, most authors believe that Kaposi's sarcoma does not produce metastatic disease, but rather develops in multifocal fashion. However, Kaposi's sarcoma may cause death, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, Dabska's tumor, and retiform hemangioendothelioma are examples of low-grade angiosarcoma. In contrast, cutaneous angiosarcomas, including the clinical variants of angiosarcoma of face and scalp in elderly patients, angiosarcoma associated with lymphedema, and radiation-induced angiosarcoma are highly aggressive neoplasms with poor prognosis and most patients die within a short period after presentation. A group of benign and relatively frequent cutaneous neoplasms, including multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma, angiofibroma, angioleiomyoma, angiolipoma, cutaneous angiolipoleiomyoma, and cutaneous angiomyxoma are here covered because of their significant vascular component. Finally, we review briefly a series of cutaneous disorders that have been erroneously considered as vascular neoplasms. Kimura's disease is an inflammatory reactive condition of unknown origin, "benign" angioendotheliomatosis is a reactive intravascular proliferation of endothelial cells that occurs in the skin as a response to a variety of stimuli, "malignant" angioendotheliomatosis is an intravascular lymphoma, and acral pseudolymphomatous angiokeratoma of children (APACHE) is better interpreted as a pseudolymphoma.

Infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome do not have "true" hemangiomas

OBJECTIVE

In 1940 Kasabach and Merritt described an infant with a vascular anomaly, extensive purpura, and thrombocytopenia; they called his lesion "capillary hemangioma." Hemangioma is a benign tumor that grows in infancy and is characterized by proliferation of endothelial cells and regression during childhood. Although Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) is frequently mentioned as a possible complication of hemangioma, our experience suggests that the anatomic vascular lesion underlying the thrombocytopenia is not a "true," classic, involuting type of hemangioma of infancy and childhood.

STUDY DESIGN

We reviewed the clinical and hemostasis data and the response to treatment in 22 cases of KMS, and we analyzed the biopsy specimens of 15 of them.

RESULTS

Clinically none of the 22 patients had classic hemangioma. There was no female preponderance. All patients had severe thrombocytopenia (lowest platelet count = 3000/mm3) and consumption of fibrinogen. Histologically, none had the typical "capillary," involuting type of hemangioma of infancy: they exhibited either a tufted angioma or a kaposiform hemangioendothelioma pattern; all specimens also contained numerous abnormal lymphatic-like vessels; lymphatic malformation was the major component in two patients. The infants exhibited a heterogeneous response to a number of therapeutic regimens, as noted in other reports. Severe morbidity was present; three of our patients died, and one had leg amputation. "Residua" were, in fact, residual vascular neoplasia, variable in duration, and not a stable fibrofatty residuum, as in classic involuted hemangioma; only the hematologic phenomenon was "cured" after a period of years.

CONCLUSIONS

KMS is a distinctive disease of infancy, but the underlying vascular lesion is not a "true," classic, involuting type of hemangioma of infancy. This is a different vascular tumor with a resemblance pathologically to either tufted angioma or kaposiform hemangioendothelioma in association with lymphatic-like vessels. Whether the underlying lesion in KMS is a single anatomic entity or heterogeneous cannot be definitely concluded from this study. We need a better understanding of the pathogenesis of KMS to improve our therapeutic management.