What causes lymphangiosarcoma?
Common risk factors that may lead to the development of lymphangiosarcoma include lymphatic blockage, radiotherapy, mastectomy, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. The sarcoma first appears as a bruise mark, a purplish discoloration or a tender skin nodule in the extremity, typically on the anterior surface.
How is lymphangiosarcoma treated?
The most successful treatment for lymphangiosarcoma is amputation of the affected limb if possible. Chemotherapy may be administered if there is evidence or suspicion of metastatic disease.
What is lymphedema sarcoma?
Lymphangiosarcoma: a Rare but Fatal Complication of Long-Standing Lymphedema. A rare complication of chronic extremity lymphedema is the development of lymphangiosarcoma. This tumor is a rare form of soft tissue neoplasm.
How does angiosarcoma start?
Angiosarcoma happens when cells in the lining of a blood vessel or lymph vessel develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes, which doctors call mutations, tell the cells to multiply quickly.
How can you prevent lymphangiosarcoma?
The most efficient way to avoid Stewart-Treves syndrome, a highly lethal disease, is by preventing or treating long-standing lymphedema, which predisposes individuals to this lymphangiosarcoma years later.
How do you know if you have lymphangiosarcoma?
Lymphangiosarcoma is characterized by skin changes in the form of purple colored raised cutaneous lesions progressing to ulceration in a lymphedematous arm within a median of ten years following mastectomy [3].
Can angiosarcoma be cured?
Angiosarcoma is a rare and deadly malignancy originating from the vascular endothelial cells. Surgery is the most effective method to cure this disease, but for metastatic angiosarcoma, a chemotherapy-based treatment is the main therapeutic choice. However, there is currently no standard chemotherapy regimen.
How common is lymphangiosarcoma?
Lymphangiosarcoma following breast cancer is a rare entity. Around 300 cases have been reported worldwide since Stewart-Traves syndrome characterized by angio sarcoma of skin and soft tissue of the area after Radical Mastectomy, Radiation and Lymphedema [1].
Can you live with angiosarcoma?
People with low-grade breast angiosarcoma survive longer than people with other types of this cancer. Many people with angiosarcoma aren’t diagnosed until their cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, which often results in a worse prognosis.