Angiosarcoma of the breast following segmental mastectomy complicated by lymphedema

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 87; no. 5; pp. 651 - 655
• Main Authors: BENDA, J. A, AL-JURF, A. S, BENSON, A. B. III
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Society of Clinical Pathologists 01.05.1987
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - surgery; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hemangiosarcoma - etiology; Hemangiosarcoma - pathology; Humans; Lymphedema - complications; Lymphedema - etiology; Mammary gland diseases; Mastectomy - adverse effects; Medical sciences; Tumors; Human; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; Lymphedema; Mastectomy; Evolution; Tumor; Mammary gland; Angiosarcoma; Antecedent
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/87.5.651

A patient is discussed who had angiosarcoma of her lymphedematous right breast develop four years after segmental mastectomy for infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The lymphedema developed and persisted after an indolent and recurrent postoperative infection. The possibility that the second malignancy is a consequence of the chronic lymphedema, similar to the angiosarcomas of lymphedematous extremities after radical mastectomy, is cautiously entertained. This hypothesis is worthy of consideration as more breast conservation surgery is being done, with or without adjuvant radiation therapy, and accumulating evidence suggests that lymphedema of the breast is a common complication of surgery followed by radiation.