Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Angiosarcoma of the small intestine

A possible role for thalidomide?

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Medical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An 85-yr-old male presented with complaints of a 40-lb weight loss and a dull left upper quadrant abdominal pain. He also complained of decreased appetite, generalized weakness, generally not feeling well, and a dull left upper quadrant abdominal pain that was not relieved by food. He had a ventral and a left-sided inguinal hernia. Laboratory investigations revealed iron deficiency anemia, the cause of which was not apparent despite extensive investigation including computerized tomographic scans, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and small-bowel follow-through examination. Surgical exploration for possible angiodysplasia, malignancy, and/or mesenteric ischemia revealed an incarcerated hernia, and the histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed high-grade angiosarcoma. The tumor showed strong positivity for vimentin and CD31 and a focal positivity for Factor VIII and CD34. At that time he was found to have hepatic metastases. He was started on thalidomide as an experimental measure with no change in the performance status and increasing evidence of necrosis in the metastatic lesion.

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. Rosenberg SA, Herman DJ, Laurence HB. Sarcomas of soft tissue. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (eds). Cancer, Principles and practice of oncology. JB Lippincott: Philadelphia, 1984, pp. 1243–1291.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Maddox JC, Evans HL. Angiosarcoma of skin and soft tissue. Cancer 1981; 48:1907–1921.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Schaffer K, McKenzie CG, Salm R. Post-mastectomy lymphangiosarcoma: A reappraisal of the concept. A critical review and report of an illustrative case. Histopathology 1979; 3:131–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Locker GY, et al. The clinical features of hepatic angiosarcoma: A report of four cases and a review of the English literature. Medicine 1979; 58:45–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Barclay THC, Shapiro DV. Malignant tumors of the small intestine. Cancer 1983; 51:878–881.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Goel IP, Didolkar MS, Elias EG. Primary malignant tumors of the small intestine. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1976; 143:717–719.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Waterhouse G, Skudlarack JL, Benton AR. A clinical review of small bowel neoplasm. South Med J 1981; 74:1201–1203.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gentry RW, Dockerty MB, Clagett OT. Vascular malformation and vascular tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Int Abstr Surg 1949; 88:281–320.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ordaonez MG, et al. Angiosarcoma of the small intestine: An immunoperoxidase study. Am J Gastroenterol 1983; 78:218–221.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Taxy JB, Battifora H. Angiosarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract: A report of three cases. Cancer 1988; 62:210–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Smith JA, Bhothal PS, Cuthbertson AM. Angiosarcoma of the colon: Report of a case with long-term survival. Dis Colon Rectum 1990; 33:330–333.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Harrist TJ, et al. Thorotrast-associated sarcoma of bone. Cancer 1979; 44:2049–2058.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Popper H, et al. Development of hepatic angiosarcoma in man induced by vinyl chloride, thorotrast and arsenic. Am J Pathol 1978; 92:349–376.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nanus DM, Kelson D, Clark DGC. Radiation-induced angiosarcoma. Cancer 1987; 60:777–779.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen KTK, Hoffman KD, Hendricks EJ. Angiosarcoma following therapeutic irradiation. Cancer 1979; 44:2044–2048.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wolov RB, et al. Intra-abdominal angiosarcomatosis: Report of two cases after pelvic irradation. Cancer 1991; 67:2275–2279.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Jennings TA, et al. Angiosarcoma associated with foreign body material: A report of three cases. Cancer 1988; 62:2436–2444.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Alles JU, Bosslet K. Immunocytochemistry of angiosarcomas. Am J Clin Pathol 1988; 89:463–471.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chami TN, et al. Angiosarcoma of the small intestine: A case report and literature review. Am J Gastroenterol 1994; 89:797–800.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kieran MW. Antiangiogenesis therapy. Current and future agents. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2001; 15:835–851.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rajkumar SV. Thalidomide in hematologic and oncologic disease. Oncol 2000; 14 (Suppl 13):9–10.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Fine HA, et al. Phase II trial of the antiangiogenic agent thalidomide in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas. J Clin Oncol 2000; 18:708–715.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Fife K, et al. Activity of thalidomide in AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma and correlation with HHV8 titre. Int J STD AIDS 1998; 9:751–755.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Eisen T, et al. Continuous low dose thalidomide: A phase II study in advanced melanoma, renal cell, ovarian and breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2000; 82:812–817.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Singhal S, et al. Antitumor activity of thalidomide in refractory multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med 1999; 341:1565–1571.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, 58102, Fargo, ND

    Genise Fraiman

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, 58102, Fargo, ND

    Apar Kishor Ganti MD

  3. University of North Dakota School of Medicine, 58102, Fargo, ND

    Anil Potti (Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine)

  4. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, 58102, Fargo, ND

    Syed Mehdi (Chief)

Authors
  1. Genise Fraiman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Apar Kishor Ganti MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anil Potti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Syed Mehdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Apar Kishor Ganti MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fraiman, G., Ganti, A.K., Potti, A. et al. Angiosarcoma of the small intestine. Med Oncol 20, 397–401 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:4:397

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:4:397

Key Words

Search

Navigation