Primary splenic angiosarcoma with liver metastasis: A case report and literature review

World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Mar 28;22(12):3506-10. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i12.3506.

Abstract

Primary splenic angiosarcoma (PSA) is an unusual and highly malignant vascular tumour with a high rate of metastatic. Moreover, the research on prognosis of the disease is poor. The epidemiology, etiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease remain challenging, because case reports of the disease are few in number. In accordance with other malignant tumors, PSA is very aggressive, and the majority of patients in which this disease is found are at an advanced stage. Almost all patients die within 12 mo of diagnosis irrespective of treatment. We report here a woman who had complained of upper bellyache and anorexia for 10 d. Magnetic resonance imaging showed enlargement of the spleen with multiple heterogeneous masses in the lower pole of the spleen. A hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy was performed which allowed histopathologic diagnosis. The patient was diagnosed with PSA and liver metastasis, and succumbed to the disease 35 d after surgery. The literature was finished combined with the clinical features, diagnosis and management of PSA.

Keywords: Angiosarcoma; Immunohistochemistry; Metastasis; Spleen; Splenectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy
  • Hemangiosarcoma / chemistry
  • Hemangiosarcoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemangiosarcoma / secondary*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Splenectomy / methods
  • Splenic Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Splenic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Splenic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Splenic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor