title: Breast angiosarcoma secondary to phyllodes tumour.
abstract: Angiosarcomas are rare malignant tumours that arise from endothelial cells lining vascular channels, representing 0.04% of malignant neoplasms of the breast. Breast angiosarcomas (BAs) were first described by Schmidt in 1887, and may be primary or secondary to the pre-existing conditions. Primary BAs are more common in young women and present as a palpable mass. Secondary BAs arise in older patients, frequently 5-6&emsp14;years after radiotherapy, and present as a rash.The authors describe the case of an 83-year-old woman with no history of thoracic radiotherapy or surgery. She had been observed for a breast nodule where biopsy revealed phyllodes tumour. The patient refused surgery and returned 2&emsp14;years later because of an impressive increase in tumour volume and skin ulceration. She underwent mastectomy with local skin flaps. Histopathological result revealed high-grade angiosarcoma of 15×12&emsp14;cm. There was follow-up without evidence of recurrence, after radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Gaia, Portugal. sisse.costa@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Susana Alexandra Rodrigues
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Graça
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maciel
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D003557:Phyllodes Tumor / Q000473:pathology*