A Retrospective Analysis of Six Cases of Angiosarcoma.
- Author:
Kyeong Ho SONG
1
;
Su Bong NAM
;
Kyoung Hoon KIM
;
Chi Won CHOI
;
Heung Chan OH
;
Soo Jong CHOI
;
Yong Chan BAE
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. subong71@pusan.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Angiosarcoma
- MeSH:
Free Tissue Flaps;
Hemangiosarcoma;
Humans;
Length of Stay;
Medical Records;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Recurrence;
Retrospective Studies;
Scalp;
Skin;
Transplants
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
2011;38(6):791-797
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignant soft tissue tumor. Due to a lack of the established optimal treatment modalities, however, an extensive resection followed by an early detection has been reported to be the best treatment of choice. We analyzed the clinical course of six patients, hence attempted to contribute to making a treatment plan for patients with angiosarcoma. METHODS: Six patients who have been surgically treated between 2005 and 2010 are included. Through a retrospective analysis of the medical records, we evaluated the pattern of disease detection, a past history, time span between the detection and the primary surgery, surgical treatment modalities, time span between the primary surgery and the recurrence/metastasis, the sites of metastasis and the secondary treatment modalities. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 70.5 years; all male; and the sites were the scalp. Four patients underwent the reconstruction using a local flap with a skin graft and two patients using a free flap. The mean period elapsed until the primary operation since the identification was 7.3 months and until a recurrence or a metastasis occurred following the primary operation was 12 months. Four patients had pulmonary metastasis. As a secondary therapy, four patients underwent the radiotherapy and one was treated with the chemotherapy. At the present, five patients died and one undergoes a monitoring of the clinical course. CONCLUSION: It would be mandatory to shorten the length of hospital stay and to return patients to their daily lives as the earliest as possible using relatively simpler surgical methods, thus attempting to give them opportunity to resume their previous normal life.
