Bone marrow metastasis of angiosarcoma

Pathol Res Pract. 2004;200(7-8):551-5. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2004.05.003.

Abstract

We report a rare finding of bone marrow metastasis from an angiosarcoma. The patient was a 36-year-old man who initially presented with a high-grade angiosarcoma of the spleen and was treated with splenectomy and chemotherapy. He developed leukoerythroblastic anemia three years after splenectomy. Bone marrow biopsy revealed extensive infiltrate by angiosarcoma with typical features of spindle tumor cells and anastomosing vascular channels. The immunohistochemistry showed tumor cells positive for the endothelial markers of CD31, CD34, and von Willebrand factor. Angiosarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors. Although metastases occur commonly, bone marrow findings have been rarely documented. We have found in the literature two other cases of bone marrow metastasis of angiosarcoma, and all these patients had a primary tumor of the spleen. It would seem that splenic angiosarcomas have a virtually unique propensity for infiltration in the bone marrow.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / chemistry
  • Hemangiosarcoma / pathology
  • Hemangiosarcoma / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Splenic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • von Willebrand Factor / analysis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • von Willebrand Factor