A Single Institution Study Experience of Secondary Breast Angiosarcoma after Breast Conserving Treatment: Multidisciplinary Management

Abstract

The aim of this study, focusing on a small number of cases, is to deal with the angiosarcoma of the breast, representing less than 1% of all soft tissue breast tumors, and finally share our experience. As a consequence of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) that is the standard treatment nowadays, a new type of angiosarcoma has been highlighted: RadiationInduced Angiosarcoma (RIAS). Here is reported a retrospective analysis of RIAS patients’ characteristic features, together with an account of the integrated treatment and the outcome of six cases of RIAS treated in our institution from 2013 to 2018. Breast angiosarcoma as a consequence of surgery and radioterapy has been rarely recorded but it is a documented complication of radiation treatment for breast cancer, with a high recurrence rate and poor outcomes. It remains challenging clinically, radiologically and histologically, and thus a high index of suspicion is required in susceptible patients. Simple mastectomy is the primary treatment option, however, an increasing number of studies on the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, each with variable degree of success, is being focused. Re-irradiation can be taken into consideration in order to increase local control, while chemotherapy may be considered for cases in a more advanced stage.