Korean J Dermatol.
2007 Dec;45(12):1284-1290.
Seven Cases of Cutaneous Angiosarcoma of the Scalp of the Aged
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. seokjong@knu.ac.kr
- 2Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- 3Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Abstract
- Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive vascular malignancy with a grave prognosis. It usually arises in the scalp or face as a locally-advanced patch, plaque or tumor at presentation and most often affects males and the elderly. Histopathologically, well-differentiated angiosarcomas are composed of well- or ill-formed vascular channels, often lined by flattened atypical endothelial cells and are distinguished from benign counterparts by their so-called "collagen dissection pattern" and anastomosing architecture. Varied differentiation may be observed even in the same tumor. Epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare variant of poorly-differentiated angiosarcoma. The patients were seven cases of angiosarcomas including an epithelioid variant. They were six males and one female with an age range between 65~84 years (avg. 74 years). Lesions resembled seborrheic dermatitis, erysipelas or "spreading bruise" that varied from blue to red in color and from papule to mass in size. They revealed satellite lesions far from the main lesion in some cases. Skin biopsies were performed for all patients and histopathologic features were compatible with angiosarcoma and epithelioid angiosarcoma. We herein report seven angiosarcomas of diverse clinical features because their early detection and precise differential diagnosis should be mandatory for effective management.
