Cutaneous angiosarcoma: own experience over 13 years. Clinical features, disease course and immunohistochemical profile
- 2 September 2010
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
- Vol. 24 (10), 1230-1234
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03624.x
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare malignant tumour of endothelial origin with 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.\ud \ud PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over the last 13 years, nine patients with AS were found in our archives. Clinical features, evolution, treatment and outcome were analysed and all biopsy specimens were reviewed by a trained dermatopathologist, with subsequent immunohistochemical assessment.\ud \ud RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous AS was clinically diagnosed in 4 of 9 patients, while systemic lupus erythematosus was the most common misdiagnosis. Radiotherapy was the most prescribed treatment, but many different combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were observed. Mean disease-free and overall survival (15.4 and 23.7 respectively) were consistent with previous series, with local recurrence rate (2/9) lower than previously reported data. CD31 was positive in all patients. Vimentin, D2-40 and VEGFR-3 were expressed by the vast majority, Factor VIII by 3/7 and CD34 by about 1/3 of patients. Cytokeratin was negative in all patients. The patients with the most unfavourable course showed a strong expression of Ki-67, while those with the best outcome only had a slight positive Ki-67 staining. Larger studies regarding tumour cell expression of Ki-67 and other markers such as D2-40 will be helpful to evaluate a potential prognostic value of these stainingsKeywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- AngiosarkomDie Dermatologie, 2008
- Treatment and Outcome of 82 Patients with AngiosarcomaAnnals of Surgical Oncology, 2007
- Cutaneous AngiosarcomaAmerican Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2006
- Cutaneous angiosarcoma: a case series with prognostic correlationJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2004
- Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalpCancer, 2003
- Monoclonal Antibody D2-40, a New Marker of Lymphatic Endothelium, Reacts with Kaposi's Sarcoma and a Subset of AngiosarcomasLaboratory Investigation, 2002
- Kutane AngiosarkomeDie Dermatologie, 2000
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 (VEGFR-3): A Marker of Vascular Tumors with Presumed Lymphatic Differentiation, Including Kaposi's Sarcoma, Kaposiform and Dabska-Type Hemangioendotheliomas, and a Subset of AngiosarcomasLaboratory Investigation, 2000
- Angiosarcoma arising in a chronically lymphoedematous legBritish Journal of Dermatology, 1998
- AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF 19 CASES OF CUTANEOUS ANGIOSARCOMAHistopathology, 1996