Angiosarcoma arising in a chronically lymphoedematous leg.

Abstract

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare aggressive tumour of capillary and lymphatic endothelial cell origin. It presents as multiple purple and red papules and nodules on the head and neck or the extremities. We report an 86-year-old woman with angiosarcoma arising on her chronically lymphoedematous right leg. The lymphoedema, secondary to chronic immobility, had developed gradually over 40 years. No other family members had lymphoedema. The patient presented with a plaque of friable tumour tissue on the lower right leg and dorsum of the foot, and satellite lesions on the knee and groin which initially appeared to be petechial haemorrhages. The satellite lesions in the groin grew into tumour nodules. There was no evidence of a preceding malignancy, nor any operative intervention to the affected limb or abdomen. Histological examination of all tumour specimens revealed moderately to poorly differentiated angiosarcoma. She died within 5 months of the first appearance of the skin nodules.