Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the uterus: a review of management

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Uterine epithelioid angiosarcoma is extremely rare. Evidence-based advice regarding optimal management is lacking.

Method

We report the 22nd case in the world literature and review all the cases reported in English since 1900. An attempt is made to generate information that may help in the management based on the available literature.

Results

A 54-year-old woman was found to have an enlarged uterus on routine clinical examination. Although, she had no other symptoms, an endometrial biopsy was performed, which indicated a high-grade sarcoma. She was taken for a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and final histology returned a diagnosis of epithelioid angiosarcoma of the uterus. Two months later, she had tumor recurrence and was started on gemcitabine and taxotere later changed to albumin-bound paclitaxel (ABI-007, Abraxane™) and bevacizumab. She was still alive with no evidence of disease at the time of this report, 12 months after diagnosis. Literature review suggests that surgical resection followed by chemotherapy is a reasonable management approach.

Conclusion

Uterine epithelioid angiosarcoma is an uncommon but very aggressive disease. Surgical resection followed by sequential chemotherapy is a reasonable management approach, and modern chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic agents may have merit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abrahamson TG, Stone MS, Piette WW (2001) Cutaneous angiosarcoma. Adv Dermatol 17:279–299

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rao J, Dekoven JG, Beatty JD, Jones G (2003) Cutaneous angiosarcoma as a delayed complication of radiation therapy for carcinoma of the breast. J Am Acad Dermatol 49(3):532–538. doi:10.1067/S0190-9622(03)00428-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Klob: Cited by Horgan E (1930) Hemangioma of Uterus. Surg Gynecol Obstet 50:990

  4. Hensley ML, Maki R, Venkatraman E, Geller G, Lovegren M, Aghajanian C et al (2002) Gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with unresectable leiomyosarcoma: results of a phase II trial. J Clin Oncol 20(12):2824–2831. doi:10.1200/JCO.2002.11.050

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Penel N, Lansiaux A, Adenis A (2007) Angiosarcomas and taxanes. Curr Treat Options Oncol 8:428–434

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nagano T, Yamada Y, Ikeda T, Kanki H, Kamo T, Nishigori C (2007) Docetaxel: a therapeutic option in the treatment of cutaneous angiosarcoma: report of 9 patients. Cancer 110(3):648–651. doi:10.1002/cncr.22822

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tallini G, Price FV, Carcangiu ML (1993) Epithelioid angiosarcoma arising in uterine leiomyomas. Am J Clin Pathol 100(5):514–518

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Drachenberg CB, Faust FJ, Borkowski A, Papadimitriou JC (1994) Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the uterus arising in a leiomyoma with associated ovarian and tubal angiomatosis. Am J Clin Pathol 102(3):388–389

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Quinonez GE, Paraskevas MP, Diocee MS, Lorimer SM (1991) Angiosarcoma of the uterus: a case report. Am J Obstet Gynecol 164(1 Pt 1):90–92

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ongkasuwan C, Taylor JE, Tang CK, Prempree T (1982) Angiosarcomas of the uterus and ovary: clinicopathologic report. Cancer 49(7):1469–1475. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19820401)49:7<1469::AID-CNCR2820490726>3.0.CO;2-K

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Purola E, Strandell R (1967) Haemangioendothelioma of the uterus. Ann Chir Gynaecol Fenn 56(1):102–104

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ehrmann RL, Griffiths CT (1979) Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the uterus. Gynecol Oncol 8(3):376–383. doi:10.1016/0090-8258(79)90048-9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stout AP (1943) Hemangio-endothelioma: a tumor of blood vessels featuring vascular endothelial cells. Ann Surg 118(3):445–464. doi:10.1097/00000658-194309000-00014

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kevorkian AY (1940). Hemangioma of the uterus treated with Roentgen rays. N Engl J Med 223(1):1–3

    Google Scholar 

  15. Woll PJ, van Glabbeke M, Hohenberger P, Le Cesne A, Gronchi A, Hoekstra HJ, et al (2007) EORTC soft tissue and bone sarcoma group. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) with doxorubicin and ifosfamide in resected soft tissue sarcoma (STS): interim analysis of a randomised phase III trial. J Clin Oncol 25 (2007 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I.No. 18S (June 20 Supplement)):10008

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecologic Oncology Division, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Alexander B. Olawaiye & AnneKathryn Goodman

  2. Division of Hematologic Oncology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Richard T. Penson

  3. Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Jeffrey A. Morgan

  4. Hematology and Oncology Center, Winchester Hospital, 88 Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA, 02180, USA

    Arlan F. Fuller Jr

Authors
  1. Alexander B. Olawaiye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey A. Morgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. AnneKathryn Goodman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arlan F. Fuller Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Richard T. Penson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard T. Penson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Olawaiye, A.B., Morgan, J.A., Goodman, A. et al. Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the uterus: a review of management. Arch Gynecol Obstet 278, 401–404 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0727-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0727-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation