title: Angiosarcoma of the scalp.
abstract: Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp is a rare malignant neoplasm of endothelial cells which occurs predominantly in elderly Caucasian males. The etiology is unknown; however the most common association is prior radiation exposure. The diagnosis is often delayed due to misinterpretation for other lesions, including trauma-related bruising and infectious processes such as abscess. Radiologic imaging is non-diagnostic but can be helpful in defining the extent of local disease, as well as distant metastases. Prognosis is poor with a five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent. Treatment guidelines are not well established; however the mainstay is surgical resection with wide margins followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Prognosis remains poor with a local recurrence rate of greater than 80 percent. Adjuvant chemotherapy is also controversial but may play a role in short term palliation of metastatic or locally advanced disease. Current investigations using molecular targeted therapy are underway with the goal of eliminating systemic side effects.
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Del., USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kohen
authors.affiliation: Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Del., USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dross
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed