title: A rare cause of hemoptysis.
abstract: Angiosarcomas are rare, malignant, endothelial-cell tumors of vascular origin that can arise at any body site. They frequently metastasize to the lung, heralded by dyspnea, hemoptysis, chest pain, pneumothoraces, and diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage. However, in most cases lung metastases are discovered after the diagnosis of a primary angiosarcoma has already been established. Very rarely will an undiagnosed metastatic angiosarcoma present as diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage. We describe the case of a 59-year-old male who presented to hospital with dyspnea and hemoptysis. CT chest revealed rapidly progressing nodular changes and broncho-alveolar lavage returns were progressively bloody. Open lung wedge biopsy ultimately revealed metastatic angiosarcoma and extensive pulmonary hemorrhage. Our case highlights the key clinical, radiological, and pathological features of this rare malignancy that frequently metastasizes to the lung and reminds clinicians to consider it as a cause of hemoptysis and pulmonary hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 585 University Avenue, 9N-965, Toronto ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 585 University Avenue, 9N-965, Toronto ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhinder
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 585 University Avenue, 9N-965, Toronto ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanguay
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 585 University Avenue, 9N-965, Toronto ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thenganatt
keywords: Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage; Metastatic angiosarcoma