Angiosarcoma after excisional surgery for chronic lymphedema.

Angiosarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma of endothelial cell origin. It can arise from the endothelium of lymphatics (lymphangiosarcoma) or blood vessels (hemangiosarcoma). Chronic lymphedema of any origin is associated with its development. Few cases have been reported after surgical procedures for lymphedema. Here, we report one case of angiosarcoma that developed 15 months after excisional surgery for lymphedema. In spite of radical surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, the patient died of multiple lung metastases and pleural effusion 13 months later.