ABSTRACT

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma is a well-known complication of radiotherapy that follows breast conservation surgery. The prognosis of angiosarcoma after radiotherapy is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of between 10-55 % and with a relapse rate of nearly 92 %. Although surgery is the main treatment option for these tumours, it may be a challenging problem because of the highly aggressive behaviour. Adjuvant and neo-adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy are the other alternative treatment options in inoperable cases. However, their effects have not been clearly defined yet.

Herein we report a case of angiosarcoma that arises from previously irradiated breast skin. Patient underwent total mastectomy and skin grafting following incisional biopsy and then wide local re-excision due to local recurrence was performed two months later. But, new recurrence lesions were observed in a more aggressive pattern 2 months later again. Additional surgery could not perform because of the general condition of the patient, who was died at the 6th month after diagnosis.

Radiation-induced angiosarcomas are challenging problems with a long latency period and highly aggressive clinical behaviour. Therefore clinicians must be aware of newly developed painless vascular lesions at the irradiated zones of breast conservation therapy patients.