Cutaneous radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast: poor prognosis in a rare secondary malignancy.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast (CRAASBr) is a rare complication of radiation therapy (RT) administered for primary breast cancer treatment. Although case series have provided clinical and histological descriptions of this disease, to our knowledge, none have identified trends in presentation and treatments that may contribute to outcomes.


METHODS
Demographic, clinical, histopathologic, and outcomes data for all patients presenting with CRAASBr for treatment or consultation at our institution from 1987 to 2009 were reviewed.


RESULTS
We identified 33 patients (median age at CRAASBr presentation 71.3 years, range 43.1-87.2 years; median latency period 73.5 months, range 39.6-148.5 months). The most common presentation was breast skin ecchymosis (55 %). In four patients, initial biopsy demonstrated atypical vascular lesions suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, angiosarcoma. All patients underwent mastectomy. Median local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were 18.2, 13.0, and 48.5 months, respectively. Patients who underwent resection of all irradiated breast skin as part of the mastectomy trended toward a better median LRFS (80.8 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.065), RFS (72.6 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.098), and OS (not achieved vs. 29.0 months, p = 0.054).


CONCLUSIONS
CRAASBr is a potentially devastating consequence of RT for breast cancer, with poor LRFS, RFS, and OS rates. Patients with ecchymotic skin lesions require biopsy. Atypical vascular lesions require careful evaluation to rule out CRAASBr. If the diagnosis is confirmed, radical surgery encompassing both the breast parenchyma and the at-risk radiated skin should be performed.
Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Elizabeth A
EA
Morgan
David E
DE
Kozono
Qian
Q
Wang
Carlos M
CM
Mery
James E
JE
Butrynski
Elizabeth H
EH
Baldini
Suzanne
S
George
Alessandra F
AF
Nascimento
Chandrajit P
CP
Raut
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015996:Survival Rate