Primary Uterine Angiosarcoma

• Main Author: Pina,Carla
• Publication Date: 2008
• Other Authors: Teixeira,Marcília, Torres,Sílvia, Oliveira,Cristina, Ferreira,Eduardo, Alves,António, Branco,Paula
• Format: Report
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0871-34132008000300004
• topic: angiosarcoma; hemangioendothelioma; hemangiosarcoma

Primary uterine angiosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the vascular endothelium that occurs predominately in peri and postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding and anemia. We present a case of a 66-year-old woman with uterine angiosarcoma who underwent abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, showing the importance of immunohistochemical staining in making the final diagnose. Histologically, the tumor has anastomosing vascular channels lined by highly atypical endothelial cells. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for endothelial markers CD31 and vimentin, supporting the diagnosis of uterine angiosarcoma. Primary uterine angiosarcoma tend to demonstrate a highly malignant behavior. The major prognostic factors seems to be the size of the tumor at diagnosis and the presence of extra pelvic disease. No consensus exist for best possible therapy given the few cases from which to draw conclusions.