Multifocal angiosarcoma of the scalp is uncommon. Its risk factors include a history of radiotherapy and possibly sun exposure. Angiosarcoma is an aggressive tumor with a high propensity for both local recurrence and distant metastasis. Overall, the prognosis is poor. The size of the lesion is an important prognostic factor. Treatment modalities include surgery with wide margins (with or without adjuvant therapy) and multidrug chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy. The local failure rate is high.
References
1.
BatsakisJG, RiceDH. The pathology of head and neck tumors: Vasoformative tumors, part 9B. Head Neck Surg1981;3:326–39.
2.
RosaiJ, SumnerHW, KostianovskyM, Perez-MesaC.Angiosarcoma of skin: A clinicopathologic and fine structural study. Hum Pathol1976;7:83–109.
3.
HodgkinsonDJ, SouleEH, WoodsJE. Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the head and neck. Cancer1979;44:1106–13.
4.
NakaN, TomitaY, NakanishiH, Mutations of p53 tumor-suppressor gene in angiosarcoma. Int J Cancer1997;71:952–5.
5.
MarkRJ, TranLM, SercarzJ, Angiosarcoma of the head and neck: The UCLA experience 1955 through 1990. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1993;119:973–8.
6.
WenigBM. Atlas of head and neck tumors. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1991:88.
7.
HoldenCA, SpittleMF, JonesEW. Angiosarcoma of the face and scalp, prognosis and treatment. Cancer1987;59:1046–57.
8.
MorrisonWH, ByersRM, GardenAS, Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the head and neck: A therapeutic dilemma. Cancer1995;76:319–27.
9.
LydiattWM, ShahaAR, ShahJP. Angiosarcoma of the head and neck: Am J Surg1994;168:451–4.
10.
WillersH, HugEB, SpiroIJ, Adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck treated by radiation and surgery or radiation alone: Patterns of failure and prognostic factors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1995;33:585–93.
11.
AustMR, OlsenKD, LewisJE, Angiosarcomas of the head and neck: Clinical and pathologic characteristics. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1997;106:943–51.
12.
NakaN, OhsawaM, TomitaY, Prognostic factors in angiosarcoma: A multivariate analysis of 55 cases. J Surg Oncol1996;61:170–6.
13.
KarpehMSJr., CaldwellC, GaynorJJ, Vascular soft-tissue sarcomas: An analysis of tumor-related mortality. Arch Surg1991;126:1474–81.
14.
FongY, CoitDG, WoodruffJM, BrennanMF. Lymph node metastasis from soft tissue sarcoma in adults: Analysis of data from a prospective database of 1772 sarcoma patients. Ann Surg1993;217:72–7.