Stewart-Treves Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

A 68 year old female with Stewart Treves Syndrome was evaluated in the Emergency Department. Patient was resuscitated in the Emergency Department and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The following day, she suffered a stroke and was placed on comfort care measures after palliative care discussion with family. She died three days after admission. This article discusses Stewart Treves Syndrome, a rare form of angiosarcoma that occurs with chronic lymphedema after radical mastectomy with lymph node dissection. It presents with purplish cutaneous nodules or reddish blue macules that enlarge. The mortality rate is high and survival is low. Emergency physicians should be aware of this rare, but highly lethal, malignant syndrome. A patient with history of breast cancer and radiation therapy who presents with an enlarging red-purple plaque should be admitted or referred to oncology or plastic surgery for immediate biopsy.