Angiosarcoma of the scalp

Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp is a rare malignant neoplasm of endothelial cells which occurs predominantly in elderly Caucasian males. The etiology is unknown; however the most common association is prior radiation exposure. The diagnosis is often delayed due to misinterpretation for other les...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Delaware medical journal Vol. 85; no. 9; p. 269
Main Authors:	Kohen, Denise, Dross, Peter
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-09-2013
Subjects:	Aged, 80 and over Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery Hemangiosarcoma - diagnostic imaging Hemangiosarcoma - mortality Hemangiosarcoma - surgery Humans Male Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology Prognosis Scalp Skin Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging Skin Neoplasms - mortality Skin Neoplasms - surgery Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:	Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp is a rare malignant neoplasm of endothelial cells which occurs predominantly in elderly Caucasian males. The etiology is unknown; however the most common association is prior radiation exposure. The diagnosis is often delayed due to misinterpretation for other lesions, including trauma-related bruising and infectious processes such as abscess. Radiologic imaging is non-diagnostic but can be helpful in defining the extent of local disease, as well as distant metastases. Prognosis is poor with a five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent. Treatment guidelines are not well established; however the mainstay is surgical resection with wide margins followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Prognosis remains poor with a local recurrence rate of greater than 80 percent. Adjuvant chemotherapy is also controversial but may play a role in short term palliation of metastatic or locally advanced disease. Current investigations using molecular targeted therapy are underway with the goal of eliminating systemic side effects.
ISSN:	0011-7781