Article Text
Abstract
Primary angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive malignancy, which arises from endothelial cells lining blood vessels. It represents less than 0.05% of all breast cancers, and more commonly affects relatively younger individuals. Reaching the correct diagnosis may be delayed, because imaging is not typical of other breast malignancies and can mimic benign processes. Clinical presentation is variable, ranging from diffuse breast oedema to a palpable discrete mass. An early adolescent female presented to her general practitioner with a palpable breast lump on self-examination. The diagnosis of primary breast angiosarcoma was confirmed on biopsy. She underwent a complete surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. She remains in remission after 3 years and is undergoing regular surveillance. Due to the rarity of this condition, there is no established clinical management protocol for this condition currently. Early detection, aggressive treatment and ongoing surveillance provide the best chance of prolonged disease-free survival.
- Breast surgery
- Breast cancer
- Surgical oncology
- Radiology
- Pathology
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Footnotes
Contributors CL created the first draft of the manuscript and is the primary and corresponding author for the case report. RL and NMF were extensively involved in critical revision of the draft to create the final manuscript. RK is the original consultant who was responsible for the care of the patient in the case report. All parties have discussed all aspects of the work for factual accuracy and approved the final draft for submission.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.