An "anaplastic" Kaposi's sarcoma mimicking a Stewart-Treves syndrome. A case report and a review of literature.

Abstract

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AGS) developing in a lymphedematous arm, after lymphadenectomy in the context of breast cancer, is the definition of the classical Stewart-Treves syndrome. Like AGS, many tumors such as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) could develop in chronic lymphedema. We describe the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with several nodules on the left lymphedematous arm evocative of a Stewart-Treves syndrome, 2 years after a left mastectomy and a homolateral lymphadenectomy. The histological examination revealed an atypical vascular proliferation suggesting AGS, but endothelial atypical cells nuclei were strongly stained by herpes human virus 8 antibody. The final diagnosis was an "anaplastic" KS mimicking a Stewart-Treves syndrome. The total regression of the lesion was obtained by elastic contention and intradermic liposomal doxorubicin. "Anaplastic" KS is a rare histological form of nodular KS, which mimics a cutaneous AGS but classically expresses herpes human virus 8. It is essential to know about this entity, particularly in a lymphedematous arm, to avoid aggressive treatment such as amputation.

• Authors: Dimitri Salameire, Isabelle Templier, Julie Charles, Nicole Pinel, Patrice Morand, Marie-Thérèse Leccia, Sylvie Lantuejoul
• Journal: The American Journal of dermatopathology (Am J Dermatopathol) Vol. 30 Issue 3 Pg. 265-8 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1533-0311 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18496429 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• DNA, Neoplasm
• Viral Proteins
• assembly protein, Human herpesvirus 8

Topics

• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• DNA, Neoplasm (analysis)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Hemangiosarcoma (diagnosis)
• Herpesvirus 8, Human (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Lymphangiosarcoma (diagnosis)
• Lymphedema (etiology, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (chemistry, pathology, virology)
• Skin Neoplasms (chemistry, pathology, virology)
• Syndrome
• Viral Proteins (metabolism)