Angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma
Micrograph of an angiosarcoma. H&E stain.
Classification and external resources
ICD-O	M9120/3
eMedicine	med/138
MeSH	D006394

Angiosarcoma is a malignant neoplasm (cancer) of endothelial-type cells that line vessel walls. This may be in reference to blood (hemangiosarcoma) or lymphatic vessels (lymphangiosarcoma).

Its origin typically readily permits metastases to distant sites, and may invade the liver and lungs. Most tumors of visceral blood and lymphatic vessel walls are malignant. Hemangiosarcomas and lymphangiosarcomas of the skin are not common. Kaposi's sarcoma is a different type of cancer that also involves endothelial-type cells. Angiosarcomas will show signs of hemorrhage and necrosis. Pathologically, tumor cells will show increased nuclear to cytoplasm ratio, nuclear hyperchromasia, nuclear pleomorphism and high mitotic activity will be observed.^[1]

Angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare fatal tumor, has been seen in workers intensively exposed to the gas vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) for prolonged periods while working in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymerization plants. It has also been associated with individuals exposed to arsenic-containing insecticides and Thorotrast. In dogs, hemangiosarcoma is relatively common, especially in larger breeds such as golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers.

See also

• Glomangiosarcoma
• List of cutaneous conditions
• Stewart–Treves syndrome

References

1. Perkins, [edited by] Vinay Kumar, Abul K. Abbas, Jon C. Aster ; artist, James A. (2013). Robbins basic pathology (9th ed. ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders. ISBN 9781437717815.

External links

• Angiosarcoma by James Lewis, MD and Vernon Sondak, MD, FACS
• Angiosarcoma Awareness; current angiosarcoma research