Renal pelvis metastasis following surgery for breast angiosarcoma: a case report and literature review

Renal metastasis of breast angiosarcoma is rare. This article reports the medical records of a patient diagnosed with breast angiosarcoma who underwent radical mastectomy and was found to have multiple lung metastases 3 years after surgery and renal pelvic metastasis 4 years after surgery. The patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy and sleeve resection of the intramural segment of the ureter, and postoperative pathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of renal pelvic metastasis of breast angiosarcoma. The patient received anlotinib for lung metastases following surgery and was followed up for 4 months after surgery. Currently, the patient has symptoms of coughing and hemoptysis but no other discomfort. The diagnosis and treatment of this rare malignant tumor remain challenging.

Case Report and Literature Review

Breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all soft tissue cancers. It comprises primitive and secondary subtypes, such as radiogenic breast angiosarcoma (RAS). Despite multimodal treatment, angiosarcomas represent an incurable disease for many patients and a significant cause of deterioration in their quality of life. Surgery is a cornerstone in management, but high recurrence rates are reported. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a practicable locoregional treatment for patients with advanced angiosarcoma as part of a multimodal therapeutic strategy. The palliative benefits of ECT include optimal patient compliance, good local hemostasis control, and positive local responses. Since only 22 cases are described in the literature, we reported a rare case of RAS treated with ECT after a multidisciplinary approach, including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). A literature review on the feasibility of ECT in RAS management was also performed.

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast: a case report

Introduction

Breast angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive tumour affecting adult women. It can occur in two forms, primary form and secondary forms or radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma affecting patients with history of breast or chest radiotherapy.

Case presentation

The authors report a new case of breast angiosarcoma in 52-year-old women, with history of invasive ductal carcinoma, and reporting a discoloration of her breast skin. The patient did undergo a mastectomy of right breast and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion/discussion

Surgery with total excision associated or not to adjuvant chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice in breast angiosarcoma.

Breast Sarcomas, Phyllodes Tumors, and Desmoid Tumors: Turning the Magnifying Glass on Rare and Aggressive Entities

Breast sarcomas (BSs), phyllodes tumors (PTs), and desmoid tumors (DTs) are rare entities that arise from connective tissue. BSs can be classified as either primary or secondary, whether they develop de novo or after radiation exposure or lymphedema. PIK3CA seems to play an important common role in different BS. Malignant PTs show similar behavior to BSs, while DTs are locally aggressive but rarely metastasize. BSs usually present as unilateral, painless, rapidly growing masses with rare nodal involvement. The diagnosis should be based on magnetic resonance imaging and a core needle biopsy. Staging should comprise a chest computed tomography (CT) scan (except for benign PT and DT), while abdominal and pelvic CT scans and bone scans should be added in certain subtypes. The mainstay of treatment for localized BS is surgery, with margin goals that vary according to subtype. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches, but their use in these settings is not standard. Advanced BS should be treated with systemic therapy, consistent with recommendations for advanced soft tissue sarcomas of other topographies. Given the rarity and heterogeneity of these entities, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration and treatment at reference centers are critical.

Breast Angiosarcoma: Imaging Features With Histopathologic Correlation

Breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy of endothelial origin that can be categorized as primary angiosarcoma (PAS) or secondary angiosarcoma (SAS) based on etiology. Primary angiosarcoma typically affects younger women with no known risk factors, whereas SAS of the breast typically develops in older women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. There are two types of SAS, one that develops in the setting of chronic lymphedema and one that develops as a radiation-associated neoplasm after breast-conserving therapy (BCT). Clinically, PAS often presents as a palpable mass that may be rapidly growing, whereas SAS presents with skin changes such as erythematous plaques or nodules or with areas of skin discoloration. Mammographically, the appearance of PAS can be nonspecific and may be obscured by the dense tissue that is characteristic of the young patient population it typically affects. Cases of mammographically occult PAS have been visible at US and MRI. Mammography and US have been found to be less sensitive than MRI for the diagnosis of secondary radiation-associated angiosarcoma. Angiosarcomas, both PAS and SAS, are graded, depending on degree of differentiation, as low, intermediate, or high grade. Endothelial markers such as ERG and CD31 immunohistochemical stains are used to support the diagnosis of angiosarcomas. In this article, we review the clinical presentation, imaging findings, associated histopathology, and treatment of primary and secondary breast angiosarcoma.

Primary breast angiosarcoma: A case report

Background

Primary breast angiosarcoma (PBA) is a rare sarcoma, accounting for only 0.04% of all breast malignancies, with a difficult diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Mastectomy is the standard treatment, and the role of adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy following surgery) remains uncertain with very few studies.

Case Presentation

We report the case of a 17-year-old female patient who presented with a right breast lump that had rapidly increased in size and was hemorrhaging. She was diagnosed with breast angiosarcoma by needle biopsy and pathological evaluation. However, the mass showed a quick tendency to bleed during biopsies. After that, we performed angiography and tumor vascular embolization. The patient underwent a mastectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Tumor vascular embolization reduced the surgical risk of PBA with hemorrhage complications. Postoperative therapeutic roles still need further exploration and verification.

Radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma: report of two patients after accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and review of the literature

Background

Angiosarcoma may rarely complicate radiotherapy of breast cancer. This so-called radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIAS) occurs in less than 0.3% of patients that underwent breast conservation surgeries, usually years after completion of radiotherapy.

Case presentation

we introduce two cases of invasive ductal carcinoma who underwent lumpectomy and accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) as an alternative protocol to whole breast irradiation (WBI). They received adjuvant partial breast radiotherapy on tumor cavity for a total dose of 38.5 Gy in 10 fractions in 5 days using 3D-external-beam RT. In both cases, RIAS occurred eight years after radiotherapy, in the sub-cicatricial area in one patient and outside the irradiated area in the other one. They both underwent radical surgery and chemotherapy was performed in one patient.

Discussion

The underlying mechanism for development of RIAS is not well known, but its incidence seems to be increasing. RIAS after partial breast irradiation is very rare and has been reported in two cases so far. As it may be suggested in case 2, it is still a matter of debate if the risk of radiation-induced sarcoma is radiation-dose dependent. Although mastectomy is considered as a standard treatment, choice of treatment should be made according to the patient's specifications.

Conclusion

There are very few studies in the literature that report RIAS after APBI. Present study is the only one reporting two cases after the external 3D technique APBI. Prognosis of RIAS remains poor. Only a careful evaluation in a multidisciplinary context can offer to the patients the best result in terms of local control and survival.

Clinical Outcomes for Primary and Radiation-Associated Angiosarcoma of the Breast with Multimodal Treatment: Long-Term Survival Is Achievable

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of primary angiosarcoma (PAS) and radiation-associated angiosarcoma (RAAS) of the breast remains undefined. Available data show persistently poor survival outcomes following treatment with surgery or chemotherapy alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes in patients treated with multimodality therapy.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with stage I-III PAS or RAAS of the breast were identified from our local tumor registry (2010-2020). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment were collected. Primary outcomes were local recurrence (LR), distant recurrence (DR), and median overall survival (OS). A secondary outcome was pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared, or Fisher exact tests were used to analyze data. Kaplan-Meier curves compared OS for PAS and RAAS.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria, including 11 (50%) with RAAS and 11 (50%) with PAS. Compared to PAS patients, RAAS patients were older and had more comorbidities. For RAAS patients, median time from radiation to diagnosis was 6 years (IQR: 5-11). RAAS patients were more likely to have a pCR to NAC (40% vs. 20%, p = 0.72). RAAS patients had a higher LR rate (43% vs. 38%, p = 0.83), and PAS patients were more likely to develop a DR (38% vs. 0%, p = 0.07). Median OS was 81 months in PAS patients and 90 months in RAAS patients (p = 1.00).

DISCUSSION

Long-term survival can be achieved in patients with PAS and RAAS who undergo multimodality treatment. NAC can result in pCR. The long-term clinical implications of pCR warrant further investigation.

Primary ovarian insufficiency associated with pazopanib therapy in a breast angiosarcoma patient: A CARE-compliant case report

RATIONAL

The growing population of young cancer survivors and a trend toward postponing pregnancy until later years in life are leading to a deeper attention towards understanding treatment-induced sequelae, and, in particular, the effects of cancer and/or treatment on fertility. Nowadays, the infertility risks potentially associated with molecular targeted therapies are not established, and clinical reports are sparse. Moreover, the increasing use of molecular targeted drugs in the adjuvant setting and in diseases with better prognosis makes preservation of fertility a major topic in current research.

PATIENT'S CONCERNS

Here, we report the case of an 18-year-old woman, with a 3-cm superficial lump of the right breast, who had no remarkable family or medical history. Menarche had occurred at the age of 14 years, with normal regular periods.

DIAGNOSIS

High-grade angiosarcoma, with metastatic progression and multiple relapse, was diagnosed.

INTERVENTIONS

After diagnosis, right radical mastectomy was carried out with no evidence of residual disease. No adjuvant treatment was delivered. Lymph node metastasis were found later and chemotherapy with doxorubicin 25 mg/m/day and ifosfamide 1 g/m/day (both on days 1-3) every 21 days was administered. During treatment, the patient reported menstrual irregularities but no amenorrhea. Due to further local relapse a few years later, the patient was treated for progressive metastatic disease with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m on days 1 and 8 every 21 days for 6 cycles, and underwent surgery, followed by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, 50 mg/m on day 1 every 28 days. After further disease progression 5 years after first diagnosis, pazopanib was administered at a dose of 800 mg daily for 10 months.

OUTCOMES

The patient experienced a transient ovarian insufficiency possibly due to pazopanib. Since amenorrhea developed within 2 months from the initiation of pazopanib treatment and menses returned regularly only after discontinuation of the treatment itself.

LESSONS

This is the first case report that strongly suggests a correlation between pazopanib exposure and development of ovarian insufficiency. Our case tantalizes to inspire additional preclinical and clinical research on the true incidence, possible dose dependence, and reversibility of pazopanib (and other TKIs) -induced ovarian failure.

Management trends and outcomes of breast angiosarcoma: Is breast conservation feasible?

We queried the National Cancer Database for nonmetastatic breast angiosarcoma, yielding 808 patients (202 de novo, 606 secondary). The median survival was 53.7 months. Secondary tumors were more likely to undergo mastectomy than de novo lesions (OR = 3.99, P < 0.001). Treatments included lumpectomy (10%), lumpectomy/radiation (3%), mastectomy alone (73%), or mastectomy/radiation (14%), with no difference in survival (P = 0.68). Lumpectomy correlated with positive margin rate (OR 3.29), which was a predictor for death (HR = 2.37, P < 0.01), along with older age, higher comorbidity scores, size >5 cm, and high-grade disease (P < 0.05). While breast angiosarcoma is usually treated with mastectomy, lumpectomy may be feasible for well-selected tumors.

Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia of the Breast: A Rare Finding in a Male Patient

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) in male patients is a rare condition that represents a hormonally-induced proliferation of mesenchymal tissue of the breast. This benign pathology is often undiagnosed due to many reasons. When PASH presents as a breast mass, it appears innocent, developing as a smooth and well-circumscribed tumor. Furthermore, it does not elicit suspicious findings on imaging. These points often halt further investigation of many breast abnormalities. Breast masses are statistically most likely to be gynecomastia when they arise in men. However, they are important to investigate because, although rare, breast cancer can occur in men. Furthermore, the benign conditions of the breast that commonly affect women can also impact male patients. It is oftentimes overlooked that men too can experience hormonal stimulation of the breast tissue. The following case describes this rare but important instance of a male patient diagnosed with PASH following a previous diagnosis of infiltrative ductal carcinoma in situ of the contralateral breast.

Surgical management of truncal soft tissue sarcoma and other selected soft tissue neoplasms

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a heterogeneous entity comprising only 1% of all adult cancers that has received considerable attention since it was initially described after the 1st century as "fleshy" by Claudius Galenus. Nick-named the forgotten cancer, more than 100 histologic subtypes have been identified making treatment paradigms extremely complex. A key principle in the management of truncal STS is a defined multi-disciplinary team consisting of several providers. In most instances, surgery is the cornerstone of treatment. This overview will focus on the management of truncal sarcoma from a surgical perspective that will entail several points of consideration including histologic subtype, degree of differentiation, margin status as well as necessity of reconstruction; it will also include discussion of other unique soft tissue neoplasms relevant to the breast and abdominal wall.

Awareness of primary spontaneous hemorrhagic angiosarcoma of the breast associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in a pregnant woman by enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: A CARE-compliant case report

INTRODUCTION

Primary breast angiosarcoma with spontaneous intratumoral bleeding associating with Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome is rarely reported.

CASE FINDINGS/PATIENT CONCERNS

We herein present such a case in a 30-year-old pregnant woman who was initially diagnosed to hemangioma at her early gestation. However, the sudden rapid tumor growth was aware of the attention and intended for receiving the breast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTIONS

The dynamic MRI enhancement showed inhomogenous enhancement at the periphery of the lobulated tumor on both early and delayed scans, otherwise a large hematoma was revealed at the center. Surgical resection was performed after baby delivery by Caeserean section, and histopathologic study confirmed breast angiosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Despite its rarity, clinicians should recognize the association of breast angiosacroma with Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome with suggestive finding of enhanced MRI in order to decide the surgical approach.

Multidisciplinary approach to breast angiosarcoma in an elderly patient: Repeated local relapses and significant objective responses

Angiosarcomas are malignant tumors of endovascular origin, which may be divided into primary and secondary forms. Secondary breast angiosarcomas are an increasing problem, especially in patients treated with breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy.We report a case of radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast in a 77-year-old woman who presented with a suspect lesion in her left breast. Excisional biopsy and subsequent immunohistochemical staining of the specimen was performed. Histological report was diagnostic for low-intermediate grade angiosarcoma. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for CD31 and CD34. We performed surgical resection with mastectomy.A multidisciplinary approach with bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has been most useful to control subsequent local relapses. To date, the patient is under close observation and is performing well. No recurrence has been demonstrated after ending of chemotherapy.