Early Breast Angiosarcoma Development After Radiotherapy: A Cautionary Tale

Radiation-associated breast angiosarcoma after strut-adjusted volume implant brachytherapy

Angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy that may classically occur in the post-treatment breast. Radiation and post-treatment edema have been identified in the literature as causative risk factors. Modern treatment innovations have provided patients with more targeted radiation therapy and more conservative surgical options, which may individually limit exposure to these risk factors. Advanced treatment options are also able to provide superior cosmetic outcomes that can positively impact patient quality of life. Despite the ability for modern treatment options to mitigate post-treatment morbidities, there is still long-term risk to the patient of developing treatment-related pathologies, such as breast angiosarcoma. Here we present a patient who underwent lumpectomy and received targeted brachytherapy through a strut-adjusted volume implant device to her lumpectomy site. Her initial post-treatment course was mildly complicated by localized breast lymphedema, which resolved and left the patient with favorable cosmetic results. She developed treatment-associated breast angiosarcoma after initial breast conservation therapy was completed approximately 6 and a half years prior. Her presenting physical exam and imaging findings are portrayed with a comprehensive discussion of the commonly described presenting clinical features and imaging findings of breast angiosarcoma. Factors related to radiation treatment planning and use of the strut-adjusted volume implant device are also discussed. Comparisons between primary and secondary breast angiosarcoma are made, and a review of treatment options is given.

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma: case report

Angiosarcoma of the breast accounts for less than 1% of breast tumors. This tumor may be primary or secondary to previous radiation therapy and it is also named "radiogenic angiosarcoma of the breast", which is still a rare entity with a poor prognosis. So far, there are only 307 cases reported about these tumors in the literature. We present a case of a 73-year-old woman with a prior history of breast-conserving treatment of right breast cancer, exhibiting mild pinkish skin changes in the ipsilateral breast. Her mammography was consistent with benign alterations (BI-RADS 2). On incisional biopsy specimens, hematoxylin-eosin showed atypical vascular lesion and suggested immunohistochemisty for diagnostic elucidation. Resection of the lesions was performed and histology showed radiogenic angiosarcoma. The patient underwent simple mastectomy. Immunohistochemistry was positive for antigens related to CD31 and CD34, and C-MYC oncogene amplification, confirming the diagnosis of angiosarcoma induced by breast irradiation. A delayed diagnosis is an important concern. Initial skin changes in radiogenic angiosarcoma are subtle, therefore, these alterations may be confused with other benign skin conditions such as telangiectasia. We highlight this case clinical aspects with the intention of alerting to the possibility of angiosarcoma of the breast in patients with a previous history of adjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer treatment. Sixteen months after the surgery the patient remains asymptomatic.

Dermatologic Sequelae Associated with Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a mainstay for the treatment of primary malignancies and metastatic disease and is associated with several dermatological adverse events that are underreported in the literature. The objective of this paper was to review the literature regarding cutaneous manifestations associated with radiation therapy in order to promote awareness of the cutaneous radiation therapy-associated adverse effects. This extensive literature review was performed using the Pubmed and Embase databases. Studies were reviewed for relevance and critical evidence pertaining to cutaneous manifestations of radiation therapy. The most commonly reported cutaneous sequelae associated with radiation therapy include radiation dermatitis, non-melanoma skin cancer, radiation-associated angiosarcoma, morphea, bullous pemphigoid, lymphangioma circumscriptum, and pseudosclerodermatous panniculitis. For many of these conditions, only case reports or case series exist and there is an absence of large-scale cohort studies. Despite these limitations, this review describes the wide range of dermatological adverse events associated with radiation therapy.