Angiosarcomas rarely arise from schwannomas, but we describe here a case of angiosarcoma that arose from a remnant of a benign vestibular schwannoma that had been removed 10 years earlier. The patient was a 66-year-old man with no sign of neurofibromatosis. Although we attempted surgical resection, we could not totally remove the tumour. The patient died nine months after diagnosis, primarily as result of an abscess in the cerebellum and base of the skull. The histological diagnosis was confirmed by the immunohistochemical findings of positivity for CD34 antigen and S-100 protein in the resected tumour.

A review of the literature revealed four other cases of angiosarcoma with schwannoma, all of which arose from an extracranial nerve. The present case is the first report of an angiosarcoma with schwannoma arising from an intracranial locus.

A unique case of pseudosarcomatous fibrovascular proliferative tissue causing biphasic stridor and simulating a primary subglottic angiosarcoma is reported.

The patient presented with a wheeze and was diagnosed initially with asthma. He subsequently developed worsening biphasic stridor. Flexible nasendoscopy revealed a subglottic mass obstructing the airway. The mass was removed with a carbon dioxide laser and the patient’s condition improved dramatically. The specimen was difficult to interpret histologically and was thought at first to be a novel case of a primary subglottic angiosarcoma. However, the slides were reviewed by expert soft tissue pathologists in the UK and USA, and a final diagnosis of a pseudosarcomatous fibrovascular proliferative lesion was made.

This case highlights the important principle of seeking additional opinions before making a malignant diagnosis in an atypical site. Our report also emphasizes the importance of good clinico-pathological liaison, especially in difficult cases.

Angiosarcomas are rapidly growing malignant neoplasms arising from the vascular endothelial cells. Most common sites are the extremities and the retroperitoneal space, with only four per cent of angiosarcomas arising in the head and neck area, whilst the paranasal sinuses are one of the rarest locations. We report the case of a maxillary sinus angiosarcoma in a 72-year-old male patient. The first biopsy was inconclusive, whereas the second revealed an angiosarcoma. Medial maxillectomy was performed with subsequent external irradiation.

Angiosarcomas are uncommon malignant tumours of vascular endothelium. In the head and neck, the scalp is the commonest site of origin. A rare case of spindle-cell angiosarcoma of the oropharynx, treated by surgery and post-operative radiotherapy, is reported. We discuss the clinical presentation and histopathological diagnosis of this lesion.

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.

Angiosarcoma is a tumour of endothelial origin rarely found in the head and neck. A case of angiosarcoma of the pyriform sinus, treated by surgery and post-operative radiotherapy, is reported, providing a cue for discussion of the diagnostic, clinical and pathological pecularities of the tumour in the light of personal experience and the published data.