What is angiosarcoma?
Angiosarcoma is a type of rare, cancerous tumor that appears in the lining of the blood vessel. Such a tumor may potentially occur in any vein or artery in the body, but most angiosarcoms are located near the skin or lymph nodes. It is often difficult for doctors to identify the specific cause of angiosarcomas, but the tumors have been closely associated with environmental and radiation therapy toxins for other types of cancer. Treatment usually consists of a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery whenever possible. Instead of expiring and replacing the new tissue, cells in the endothelial lining of the blood vessel begin to replicate uncontrollably. Once the replication has begun, in a few weeks or months in some cases, the tumor can develop very quickly. The exact causes of angiosarcoma tumors are unclear, but radiation, directional development can cause injury to vessels and exposures of industrial and agricultural chemicals.
Angiosarcoma symptoms may vary considerably depending on the location of the tumor and the stage of progression. Skin sarcoma on the scalp of head, face or elsewhere on the skin creates a dark, soft, bruise lesion. Angiosarcoms in lymph nodes or breasts tend to cause swelling and may or may not be painful. When the liver is affected, it is likely that the person will experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. Finally, angiosarcoma, which develops in a blood vessel in the lungs, can result in cough and severe chest pain.
A doctor who suspects that angiosarcoma based on symptoms can perform a number of diagnostic imaging tests to search for physical tumors. Once the mass is detected, the small tissue sample is extracted and analyzed in the hospital laboratory. If the IS tumor has been found to be malignant, additional tests are needed to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
In most cases, doctors decide to fight againstAngiosarcoms with treatment and chemotherapy. If a tumor is well defined under the skin or lymphatic tissue, surgery may be possible. The surgeon can try to consume tumor and repair surrounding vascular tissue. However, angiosarcomas are very permanent and it is possible that the tumor will return even after a seemingly successful treatment procedure. If cancer cannot be excluded, the patient may be forced to treat chemotherapy and take medication to handle symptoms for the rest of his life.