Histogenesis of post‐mastectomy angiosarcoma—an ultrastructural study

Abstract

An example of post-mastectomy angiosarcoma was studied by electron microscopy to determine its histogenesis. Unequivocal evidence of endothelial differentiation was found in well and poorly differentiated areas. Positive staining for factor VIII related antigen and negative staining for epithelial membrane antigen further confirmed that the tumour was a true angiosarcoma rather than a peculiar form of carcinomatous metastasis.

Lymphangiosarcoma of the Scalp

“…In less differentiated tumors, solid areas of spindle or epithelioid cells with less well-defined vascular spaces can be observed. [8][9][10][11] Furthermore, even in tumors of confirmed lymphatic origin, some structures will show differentiation toward blood vessels. [8][9][10] Von Willebrand factor, Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1, and CD31 are useful immunohistochemical markers in poorly differentiated cases of lymphangiosarcoma.…”

“…[8][9][10][11] Furthermore, even in tumors of confirmed lymphatic origin, some structures will show differentiation toward blood vessels. [8][9][10] Von Willebrand factor, Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1, and CD31 are useful immunohistochemical markers in poorly differentiated cases of lymphangiosarcoma. 12 However, the mixture of blood and lymphatic endothelium immunophenotypes, as well as the loss of key markers with tumor progression, presents yet another obstacle in differentiating lymphangiosarcoma from cutaneous angiosarcoma.…”

Lymphangiosarcoma of the Vocal Cord: A Rare Entity Defined by a D2-40 Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Study

“…1 The term LAS was previously used to describe a rare malignancy that is most frequently associated with postmastectomy lymphedema known as Stewart-Treves syndrome 2 or, more rarely, that arises in patients with long-term congenital hereditary and nonhereditary lymphedema. 4 The term LAS has largely been abandoned in the current classification of endothelial neoplasms. Therefore, a more appropriate name is HAS.…”

Lymphangiosarcoma in postmastectomy lymphedema (Stewart‐Treves syndrome): Ultrastructural and immunohistologic characteristics

“…[lo] reported it as a vascular mesenchymal tumor and Unruh [ll] referred to such a lesion as a primitive vasoformative tumor, from their electron microscopic findings. We observed this tumor both electron microscopically and immunohistologically and confirmed the findings of McWilliam and Harris [12], i.e., that tumor cells were involved in the formation of lumens and had basement membranes, the adjacent tumor cells showed a desmosome-like linkage, and erythrocytes were also observed in the lumeps. Furthermore, the presence of the Weibel-Palade body [13], a specific marker of vascular endotheliocytes, was confirmed, and tumor cells forming lumens were positive on the immunohistochemical study produced in the intravascular cells.…”