An Aggressive Approach to an Aggressive Malignancy

Abstract

Angiosarcomas are rare neoplasms of the head and neck region accounting for less than 1% of malignancies. The median survival after diagnosis varies from eleven to twenty months. The authors present a case of angiosarcoma that was difficult to diagnose at initial presentation. After initial diagnosis and treatment, the patient developed regional metastasis (parotid gland/neck) at three months, femoral head metastasis at two and one-half years, and liver metastasis at five years. These occurrences were treated aggressively. The patient is now almost seven years postpresenta- tion and apparently disease-free and working full time.