Clinicopathological analysis of cutaneous angiosarcoma

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare malignant tumor of endothelial origin with a very poor prognosis, frequent recurrences, and high metastatic potential. Clinical suspicion is often raised too late, but histological findings and immunohistochemical assays have proved to be very helpful in the diagnostic process. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic features of angiosarcoma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with angiosarcoma who had visited our department of dermatology in Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 1998 and 2013. The clinical features, evolution, treatment, and outcome were examined, and biopsy specimens were reviewed by a trained dermatologist, with subsequent immunohistochemical assessment. Results: Cutaneous AS was clinically diagnosed in 3 of 12 patients. There were many clinical misdiagnoses including lupus erythematosus, metastatic cancer, and infectious granuloma. The male to female ratio was 1:0.71 and the mean age of the patients was 66.25 years. The most frequent site of angiosarcoma was the scalp, in 8 of 12 patients. Histopathologically, well-differentiated angiosarcoma was composed of vascular channels, lined by flattened atypical endothelial cells that could be distinguished from their benign counterparts. Variable differentiation may be observed even in the same tumor. Immunohistopathologic analysis showed that the tumor cells were positive for CD31, CD34, Ki 67, and Factor VIII-related antigen. Conclusion: This study provides useful data on the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of angiosarcoma in the Korean population.