title: Primary splenic angiosarcoma.
abstract: Primary splenic angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive malignant neoplasm arising from splenic vascular endothelium. A 70-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and chest discomfort secondary to a left-sided pleural effusion. A thoracentesis revealed a reactive effusion suspicious for malignancy. Splenic enlargement with heterogeneous enhancement was identified on CT of the abdomen. Laboratory findings at initial presentation revealed mild anemia (10.5 g/dL) with normal platelets (300 × 10⁹/L). Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed, and a primary splenic angiosarcoma was discovered. After 2 rounds of chemotherapy, a CT scan showed progressive disease with metastasis to the liver and lung. The patient's antineoplastic regimen was switched to Ifosfamide and Doxorubicin. She is currently alive with evidence of disease at 9 months but without further progression. Primary splenic angiosarcoma is almost universally fatal despite treatment. The best chance for survival is early diagnosis and prompt splenectomy prior to splenic rupture.
authors.affiliation: The Texas A&M University Health Science Center, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, Texas 76508, USA. kshamid@medicine.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Kamran S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Joaquin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Terry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lairmore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed