Case 242: Radiation-induced Angiosarcoma

Radiology. 2017 Jun;283(3):909-916. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2017150456.

Abstract

History In 2004, this woman received a diagnosis of invasive mammillary carcinoma, tubular variant, strongly positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Her lesion was found at screening mammography performed at an outside institution when she was 59 years old. She underwent partial mastectomy, with partial axillary node dissection and sentinel node mapping. A 0.6 × 0.5 cm Nottingham grade 1 infiltrating ductal carcinoma was removed from the right upper outer quadrant, margins were free of tumor, and there was no angiolymphatic invasion. The six dissected lymph nodes were negative for malignancy. Her surgical history was otherwise unremarkable. Her medical history was positive for hypercholesterolemia and depression. Pertinent family history included breast cancer in both her mother and her sister. Given the patient's age, tumor size, lack of nodal involvement, and clear surgical margins, she met recommended MammoSite criteria, and she underwent accelerated partial breast radiation. She subsequently received 340 cGy of radiation twice a day for a total dose of 3400 cGy in 10 administrations in February 2005. Accelerated partial breast radiation treatment was completed in February 2005, and she received subsequent routine care. Prior to 2014, the only postoperative complication was a chronic radiation bed seroma, which required periodic percutaneous drainage. She did not develop postsurgical lymphedema. In December 2013, 9 years after accelerated partial breast radiation treatment, she experienced progressive painful pruritic breast fullness, skin dimpling, and skin discoloration of the mastectomy scar and radiation bed. She sought medical care in January 2014 after she noticed a periareolar ulcerating skin plaque, more noticeable nipple retraction, and new onset of retroareolar aching. At physical examination ( Fig 1 ), there was generalized periareolar erythema, dimpling, firmness, and fixation involving the central breast and right upper outer quadrant. There was more conspicuous retraction of the nipple when compared with that seen at prior examinations. Nipple discharge was not present. There was a 1-cm periareolar ulcerating skin plaque. The only discrete palpable finding was lumpectomy bed seroma. There was no palpable axillary adenopathy. [Figure: see text] A diagnostic mammogram was obtained and compared with the most recent studies available. Ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed. Her most recent mammogram, obtained 3 months earlier in September 2013, reported Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 2 findings (ie, stable postoperative benign findings).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Female
  • Hemangiosarcoma / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / etiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology*