Aortic intimal sarcoma: report of two cases with immunohistochemical analysis for pathogenesis

Etiology, pathogenesis, and management of angiosarcoma associated with implants and foreign body: Clinical cases and research updates

Angiosarcomas are rare and highly malignant soft tissue sarcomas originating from endothelial cells lining the lymphatic or vascular system. While they predominantly emerge from (sub)cutaneous regions, occurrences have been reported throughout the body. The etiology of angiosarcoma remains elusive in most clinical cases. Nevertheless, several prognosis risk factors play a pivotal role, including chronic lymphedema, therapeutic irradiation, environmental carcinogens, familial syndromes, and the presence of foreign materials like metallic objects and biomedical implants. Despite evidence implicating retained foreign material in angiosarcoma development, understanding its prognosis and pathogenesis remains limited. The pathogenesis of angiosarcoma appears to involve a complex interplay of chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, and genetic factors that create a conducive microenvironment for malignant transformation. Management of these sarcomas remains challenging due to their infiltrative nature owing to the high chance of metastasis and local recurrence. The primary treatment modalities currently include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, but recent advances in targeted immunotherapy and gene therapy hold promise for more effective approaches. This comprehensive review delves into the potential etiological and pathogenic roles of foreign materials, such as metallic objects, biomedical implants, and biomaterials, in the development of angiosarcoma. Further research into the underlying molecular mechanisms could provide valuable insights for tailored management and developing novel targeted therapeutic strategies.

Angiosarcoma after endovascular aneurysm repair: case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis. We report two cases of patients who presented with a history of lower back pain, inflammatory signs and weight loss 5 and 6 years after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of an elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Imaging suggested graft infection but tissue samples revealed an epithelioid angiosarcoma. The objective is to report the clinical presentation, investigative modalities and immunohistochemical findings of an angiosarcoma after EVAR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two cases are described of an angiosarcoma of the aorta after EVAR. A literature search using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science was performed in English about angiosarcoma after EVAR published between 2007 and 2021. Relevant reports were selected and analysed.

RESULTS

Fifteen case reports were identified, including the current two cases. Time to tumour detection after EVAR ranged from 6 to 120 months with a mean interval of 68 months. Most patients underwent endovascular repair of an AAA (13/15). Males (13 male/2 female patients) were predominant with a median age of 72 years (IQR 68-78 years). Over half of the patients had metastases at the time of diagnosis (9/15), most frequently in bones and liver.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of angiosarcoma after EVAR remains challenging due to indistinctive clinical and radiological findings mimicking graft infection or endoleak. Angiosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients previously treated with EVAR presenting with unintended weight loss, abdominal back pain and contrast enhancement of the aortic wall.AbbreviationsAAAabdominal aortic aneurysmCTAcomputed tomography angiographyCRPc-reactive proteinEVARendovascular aortic repairESRerythrocyte sedimentation rateFDGfluoro-deoxyglucoseMRImagnetic resonance imagingMeSHmedical subject headings.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in mediastinal leiomyosarcoma mimicking aortic hematoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Primary mediastinal leiomyosarcomas are extremely rare. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma around the thoracic and abdominal aorta, mimicking an aortic hematoma, and discuss the diagnostic value of ultrasound.

CASE SUMMARY

A 63-year-old female was hospitalized for abdominal pain. Initial computed tomography angiography revealed an enhanced mass around the lower thoracic and upper abdominal aorta. Aortic hematoma was strongly suspected, and stents were placed by interventional surgery. About 1 mo postoperatively, the patient was re-hospitalized because of progressive abdominal pain. Ultrasound showed that the mass had a heterogeneous echo. In contrast-enhanced ultrasound, the hyperechoic regions were filled with contrast medium after the aortic region was, indicating that the blood supply was abundant but had no direct connection with the aorta. There was no obvious contrast medium-filling in the hypoechoic area. These findings were similar to those of malignant tumors with liquefaction and necrosis. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography confirmed that the mass had a high metabolic signal similar to that of a malignant tumor. Leiomyosarcoma was confirmed by postoperative pathology.

CONCLUSION

Symptoms of mediastinal leiomyosarcoma surrounding the aorta may mimic aortic hematoma. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can provide valuable and unique diagnostic clues.

Primary angiosarcoma of aorta: A systematic review

PURPOSE

To elucidate the epidemiology, anatomical, presentation, classification, pathology, investigative modalities, management and prognosis of primary angiosarcoma of the aorta.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic review of literature from the database inception to January 2021 in PubMed and Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Library in accordance to PRISMA was conducted. Retrieval and extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. The hierarchy of the evidence was assessed through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Checklist. Data were subjected to pooled prevalence analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival and test of probability using log-rank analysis. This review is registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: RD42021231314.

RESULTS

82 studies with n = 123 cases met the inclusion criterion. Abdominal (45%) aorta was the commonest anatomical site with female predominance in ascending aorta (4:1) and aortic arch (2:1). The longest survival was in the ascending aorta and the shortest in the abdominal aorta [540 (interquartile range [IQR], 7-1560 days vs. 180 (IQR, 1-5730 days)], respectively. The overall median survival was 210 days (IQR, 1-5730 days) or 7 months. Lack of metastasis (47%) was a marker of longer survival (p < 0.03) irrespective of other attributes.

CONCLUSION

The pathophysiology appears to be a trend of increasing fatigue, fever and weight loss associated with segmental dysfunction of the aorta projecting occlusive or destructive phenotypes. Computed tomography angiography features of volume-occupying, bulky, polypoid (intraluminal), protrusive vegetation, hyper vascular without atherosclerotic lesions are extremely suggestive of PA of the aorta at 5th and 6th decades of life.

Aortic Angiosarcoma in Association with Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND Primary aortic sarcoma often poses diagnostic challenges for pathologists and clinicians because of a very low incidence and controversy over nomenclature and definition. We report a case of aortic angiosarcoma in association with a graft. We also conducted a clinicopathological review of cases of primary aortic sarcomas associated with implanted grafts. CASE REPORT The patient was an 82-year-old woman. She underwent thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) at age 78 because of an aneurysm in the descending aorta. Approximately 4 years after the TEVAR, computed tomography revealed a type II endoleak and expansion of the aneurysm. Her c-reactive protein level rose to 34 mg/dL, and Ga scintigraphy showed 67Ga accumulation at the aneurysm. She had fever up to 39°C, and a stent graft infection was suspected. Despite administration of antibiotics, her condition deteriorated, and she died. Postmortem examination identified epithelioid aortic angiosarcoma at the aorta with aneurysm repair and the graft, and the aortic angiosarcoma invaded the left lower lobe of the lung. CONCLUSIONS Our clinicopathological review revealed that the proper clinical diagnosis was very difficult owing to confusion of aortic sarcoma after the implantation with the infected graft, atypical endoleak, or pseudoaneurysm. The histological diagnosis was ambiguous because immunohistochemical and genetic studies were not adequately conducted. Overall prognosis of aortic sarcoma is poor as most patients die within a year, with no effective treatments. It is hoped that recent projects for genomic medicine will provide useful insights about the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers.

Challenges in diagnosing aortic leiomyosarcoma post endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Primary aortic tumors after endovascular aortic repair are rarely reported in the literature. Here, we report an elderly male with abdominal aortic leiomyosarcomas (LMS) after an endovascular aneurysm repair in 2012 for a 5-cm symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm using an Endurant II aortic stent graft (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn). The autopsy confirmed the aortic LMS after the patient rapidly deteriorated and succumbed to death. The vascular LMS are rapidly progressive and diagnostically challenging malignant soft tissue tumors with poor prognosis, which necessitates a strong clinical suspicion and attentiveness to radiologic signs for prompt diagnosis.

Treatment of intimal sarcoma of peripheral veins

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Intimal sarcoma is an extremely rare group.

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Intimal sarcoma of large veins even rarer information and case reports are limited.

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Unique case in the medical literature and the best current evidence in the biological behavior and the response of the multiple options of treatment in this type of tumors.

Introduction

Intimal sarcoma is an extremely rare group of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma arising from the intimal layer of vessels accounting for only 1% of all sarcomas, intimal sarcoma of large veins are even less common.

Cases presentation

We present two cases of intima sarcoma, one originated form the basilar vein and the other from the cephalic vein, the first one was treated with surgery and postoperative chemotherapy followed by Radiotherapy (RT), the second case was treated with isolated limb perfusion followed by marginal resection and RT. Both patients progressed to the lungs in a short time, the first case was treated with metastasectomy of the lung and is without evidence of disease 7 months after surgery; the second case treated with isolated limb perfusion has stable disease.

Discussion

Intimal sarcoma are very aggressive tumors, with a high metastatic potential, the two patients progressed to lung in a short time (2 months) after local treatment. Both cases exhibit good response to chemotherapy and metastasectomy with a disease – free period of 7 months.

Conclusion

We propose that given the aggressive behavior of these tumors, they should be treated with chemoradiotherapy postoperative, either by systemic chemotherapy or isolated limb perfusion for the limp sparing surgery in this histology.

Intimal angiosarcoma from the common femoral vein in a 27-year-old patient

Intimal sarcoma is a rare and aggressive vascular pathology. The literature describes about 140 cases. Because of late diagnosis, the median survival time is only a few months. Presentations vary from the localization. The most common symptoms are intravascular obstruction or embolization. Diagnosis is difficult and vascular surgeons do not know the treatment very well. We present the first case of intimal angiosarcoma of the common femoral vein presenting with a deep venous thrombosis and discuss diagnosis and therapeutic approach.