title: Angiosarcoma arising in an unirradiated breast with subsequent pituitary metastasis.
abstract: Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare condition with known risk factors. The Stewart-Treves syndrome describes angiosarcoma of the arm or breast in the setting of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) after breast conservation surgery. Angiosarcoma of the breast, in the absence of RT, is rarer still. We present a unique case of angiosarcoma of the breast, diagnosed 6 years after conservative surgery for carcinoma of the breast when no adjuvant RT was given. Chronic postoperative lymphoedema in the breast delayed the investigation of skin changes, with an eventual diagnosis of angiosarcoma. An isolated pituitary metastasis 9 months from the diagnosis, the first such reported case, adds to the complexity of the case. The diagnosis and management of angiosarcoma of the breast is discussed. Angiosarcoma is a rare occurrence after breast conservative surgery. Postoperative lymphoedema can impede early diagnosis. The disease can display unique metastatic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. warrenrozen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Warren M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Rozen
authors.forename: G Bruce
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000473:pathology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*