Chronic venous ulceration with associated angiosarcoma.

BACKGROUND

Angiosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the blood vessels' endothelial lining. The tumor is very aggressive and tends to recur locally and metastasize to distant organs. Commonly, it is associated with different risk factors like lymphoedema, prior radiotherapy but rarely, it may also be associated with chronic venous ulceration.

MAIN OBSERVATION: We present a patient with a chronic venous ulceration who developed angiosarcoma of the ulcerated leg with good outcome after treatment.

CONCLUSION

It is very important to follow patients with chronic wounds and recognize changes which may be life threatening. In addition to squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin's tumor), which is most common, angiosarcoma can develop within a venous ulcer.