Angiosarcoma mimicking a recurrent carotid artery aneurysm.
BACKGROUND
Carotid aneurysm is a rare condition and mostly caused by atherosclerosis, trauma, or fibrodysplasia. Angiosarcoma is an unusual cause for large vessels' aneurysms and a rare malignant neoplasm that may occur in any region of the body, yet seldom originates in the large blood vessels. We report a rare case of an angiosarcoma in the wall of a recurrent carotid aneurysm.


METHODS
We undertook a literature review, and only a few cases of vascular aneurysms are reported to be involving or be caused by angiosarcoma. The main aneurysms affected are those of aortic and popliteal arteries. We report the case of a 61-year-old man with an angiosarcoma of the carotid artery. Biopsy of the arterial wall confirmed angiosarcoma.


CONCLUSIONS
From our study, we conclude that an unresolving or recurring aneurysm with equivocal radiological investigations should raise the suspicion of malignancy.
Department of Surgical, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, UK. basimalr@yahoo.com
Basim
B
Al-robaie
Matthew
M
Stephenson
George H
GH
Evans
Andrew J P
AJ
Sandison
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001706:Biopsy; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010166:Palliative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058017:Vascular Grafting; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy