Radical Radiation Therapy for Radiation-Induced Angiosarcoma with Local Control

Abstract

Angiosarcoma is believed to be refractory to radical radiotherapy. Although no effective treatment for radiation-induced angiosarcoma has been established, surgery is generally chosen. We report a case of unresectable radiation-induced angiosarcoma after breast cancer surgery that responded remarkably to radical radiotherapy alone. A 78-year-old Japanese female had a large mass in her right breast that was diagnosed as angiosarcoma after biopsy and considered to be a radiation-induced angiosarcoma because the patient had been treated with postoperative irradiation to the right breast cancer 8 years earlier. There were no findings suggestive of lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis. Since the tumor was widely infiltrated to the skin and the muscle layer, radical radiotherapy (total dose 66 Gy) was performed. At this radiotherapy completion, the tumor was remarkably reduced, and there were no acute adverse effects except for grade 2 dermatitis. Pazopanib was started after radiotherapy but was discontinued since necrosis of the wound with hemorrhage was observed. External pneumothorax occurred due to the marked tumor shrinkage, but it was cured by conservative care. Although angiosarcoma is well known to be radioresistant, excellent local control may be obtained by radical radiotherapy in some cases. Radiotherapy should be considered as a treatment option in inoperable cases.