Ulcerating nodules on a background of lower leg lymphoedema

Abstract

A patient presented with a 3‐month history of a rapidly enlarging ulcerated tumour on his lower leg, occurring on a background of chronic idiopathic lymphoedema of approximately 10 years' duration. Histology revealed extensive infiltration of the dermis by a vascular tumour with pleomorphic and hyperchromatic endothelial cells, which stained positive for vascular markers CD31, CD34 and ERG. A diagnosis of lymphoedema‐associated angiosarcoma was reached and our patient was treated with isolated limb perfusion with high‐dose melphalan and tumour necrosis factor‐alfa.

Lower Extremity Angiosarcoma: A Life-Threatening Complication of Lymphedema

“…3,4 To the authors' knowledge, previous literature regarding angiosarcoma in the setting of the lower extremity lymphedema is limited to single case reports. [5][6][7] Wound care specialists can play a key role in detecting angiosarcoma on the context of lower extremity lymphedema. Herein, the authors report a series of six cases of biopsy-proven angiosarcoma in the setting of lower extremity lymphedema.…”

“…Angiosarcoma accounts for only 2% of soft tissue and 5.4% of cutaneous soft tissue sarcomas 3,4 . To the authors’ knowledge, previous literature regarding angiosarcoma in the setting of the lower extremity lymphedema is limited to single case reports 5–7 . Wound care specialists can play a key role in detecting angiosarcoma on the context of lower extremity lymphedema.…”