Steward-Treves syndrome in a male patient

Abstract

Lymphangiosarcoma is an uncommon vascular tumor that usually develops in chronic lymphedema. The etiology of lymphangiosarcoma remains unknown. It develops mainly after mastectomy, in association with chronic lymphedema (Stewart-Treves syndrome), or after radiotherapy. The early diagnosis of this aggressive tumor is important, as it has a high risk of local recurrence and metastasis. Stewart-Treves syndrome occurs in 0.5% of patients who survive mastectomy for more than 5 years. The mean age at appearance of the angiosarcoma is 62 years, and the mean interval between mastectomy and the appearance of the tumour is 10.5 years. Only two cases have been reported in men following mastectomy. We present a 70-year old male patient with lymphangiosarcoma which developed three and a half years after the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. The patient underwent mastectomy of the right mammary gland with ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection and had postoperative chemo-and radiotherapy.