Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare aggressive malignant vascular tumour of the skin.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare aggressive malignant vascular tumour of the skin.


METHODS
We analysed the cases of cutaneous AS in two large dermatological departments of Saxony during the last 10 years.


RESULTS
A total of eight AS cases were identified, mostly with head and neck involvement. Because of age and late diagnosis, only a minor part was completely resectable. As a palliative therapy pegylated liposomal doxorubicin was used. The drug was well tolerated. Our cases and those published in the literature suggest a high rate of responses and a possible sensitisation to subsequent radiation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Although complete surgical resection followed by wide-field radiation therapy has been established as a therapeutic standard for AS, delay in diagnosis and older age with comorbidities warrant for a safe and effective adjuvant treatment. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with radiotherapy seems to be a useful and safe alternative.
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany. wollina-uw@khdf.de
U
U
Wollina
G
G
Hansel
J
J
Schönlebe
M
M
Averbeck
U
U
Paasch
J
J
Uhl
W
W
Hindemann
J-C
JC
Simon
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin