Pharyngeal angiosarcoma following multimodal treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2014 Mar;96(2):e5-6. doi: 10.1308/003588414X13814021676792.

Abstract

It is well established that angiosarcoma can develop following radiotherapy. We present an unusual case of angiosarcoma of the pharynx that developed three years after treatment with surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for a T2N2bM0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. The patient was tumour free until developing dysphagia, which was found to be caused by an angiosarcoma. The patient underwent surgery of the pharyngeal angiosarcoma by laryngopharyngectomy, tongue base resection, selective neck dissection and radial forearm microvascular free flap reconstruction. Angiosarcoma following head and neck malignancy is rare but must be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in patients with new symptoms after radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Forearm
  • Hemangiosarcoma / etiology*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Laryngectomy / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Dissection / methods
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology*
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / surgery
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pharyngeal Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Pharyngeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Pharyngectomy / methods
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Tongue / surgery