An "anaplastic" Kaposi's sarcoma mimicking a Stewart-Treves syndrome. A case report and a review of literature.
Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AGS) developing in a lymphedematous arm, after lymphadenectomy in the context of breast cancer, is the definition of the classical Stewart-Treves syndrome. Like AGS, many tumors such as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) could develop in chronic lymphedema. We describe the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with several nodules on the left lymphedematous arm evocative of a Stewart-Treves syndrome, 2 years after a left mastectomy and a homolateral lymphadenectomy. The histological examination revealed an atypical vascular proliferation suggesting AGS, but endothelial atypical cells nuclei were strongly stained by herpes human virus 8 antibody. The final diagnosis was an "anaplastic" KS mimicking a Stewart-Treves syndrome. The total regression of the lesion was obtained by elastic contention and intradermic liposomal doxorubicin. "Anaplastic" KS is a rare histological form of nodular KS, which mimics a cutaneous AGS but classically expresses herpes human virus 8. It is essential to know about this entity, particularly in a lymphedematous arm, to avoid aggressive treatment such as amputation.
Salameire
Dimitri
D
Pôle de biologie-Département d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Grenoble, France. DSalameire@chu-grenoble.fr
Templier
Isabelle
I
Charles
Julie
J
Pinel
Nicole
N
Morand
Patrice
P
Leccia
Marie-Thérèse
MT
Lantuejoul
Sylvie
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008204:Lymphangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D013577:Syndrome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D014764:Viral Proteins; C107890:assembly protein, Human herpesvirus 8