Radiation therapy for angiosarcoma.
BACKGROUND
Between 1964 and 1998, 19 patients with histologically proven angiosarcoma were treated with curative intent with radiation therapy.


METHODS
Median follow-up was 37 months (range, 8-234 months).


RESULTS
The actuarial 5-year absolute survival and local control rates were 51% and 50%, respectively. Of 12 patients who relapsed, 8 had isolated local recurrence as the first site of treatment failure, 2 had local (1 patient) or regional recurrence in conjunction with distant metastases, and 2 had distant metastases alone. Two of four patients who underwent further therapy for recurrent disease were successfully salvaged.


CONCLUSIONS
Only the location of the primary tumor was a predictor of local control and absolute survival at 5 years. Angiosarcomas located on the scalp imply a dismal prognosis compared with those in other locations with the predominant pattern of failure being local recurrence. Patients should be treated aggressively with surgical resection and preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy.
Ward
Jon R
JR
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida Health Science Center, 2000 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA.
Feigenberg
Steven J
SJ
Mendenhall
Nancy Price
NP
Marcus
Robert B
RB
Mendenhall
William M
WM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome