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Angiosarcoma of the head and neck

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Salah El-Sharkawi
Salah El-Sharkawi*
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Salah El-Sharkawi, 6 Northway Court, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3JZ.
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Abstract

Angiosarcoma of the head and neck is a rare tumour of vascular origin that affects the elderly. A 74-year-old man who presented with bruise-like macules of the scalp and face is reported. He was treated for a few months with different antibiotics and anti-allergic medication by his own family doctor, and referred for specialist opinion when he failed to derive any benefits from the medications. A biopsy was obtained from the lesion and proved to be an angiosarcoma. A review of the literature indicates that the most important prognostic factor in this particular disease is the size of the lesion on presentation, hence the importance of early diagnosis. This case is reported, and the literature for similar cases is reviewed, to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this uncommon aggressive tumour in an attempt to help in the process of early diagnosis.

Keywords

HaemangiosarcomaChemotherapyRadiotherapy
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 2 , February 1997 , pp. 175 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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