Angiosarcoma is a rare type of soft tissue cancer that develops in the lining of blood and The vessels of the body.. Angiosarcoma can occur anywhere in the body, but it is most often found in the skin, breast, and The person has a body part called the liver..

Angiosarcomas grow very fast. They need aggressive treatment.

Symptoms to look for, causes, treatment, and outlook are included in this article.

The immune system is made up of a single layer of cells called the endothelium. Angiosarcoma begins when the cells grow and form a tumor.

Although angiosarcoma can occur in any part of your body, it most commonly affects:

  • The skin of the head or neck.
  • The skin of the torso.
  • The person has a body part called the liver.
  • The heart.

Angiosarcoma vs. sarcoma

Angiosarcoma is a type of sarcoma that affects soft tissue. Your soft tissue is included.

There are many types of sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas are types.

Angiosarcoma is very rare. Only 1% to 2% of all soft tissue sarcomas, which are already rare, are angiosarcomas.

In the United States, for every 1 million people, 1 person is diagnosed with angiosarcoma each year. It can happen at any age but is more common in people over 70.

The skin of the head and neck is the most common location where angiosarcoma can develop.

Angiosarcoma begins due to a mutation (an error in your DNA) in one of the endothelial cells in your blood or The vessels of the body.. This causes the unhealthy cell to grow and multiply quickly, eventually creating a tumor.

“Researchers don’t know what causes these changes. They know certain risk factors can increase the risk of angiosarcoma.”

The location of the tumor affects the symptoms of angiosarcoma.

The following symptoms may be associated with angiosarcoma.

  • “A bruise or an injury that doesn’t heal.”
  • A raised area of skin that grows larger over time.
  • A bruise that happens when you scratch or bumped it.
  • A lump around a problem.

Angiosarcoma that affects other organs, like the The heart. or The person has a body part called the liver., may not cause any symptoms. When it grows large enough, it can start causing pain in these organs.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam to understand your condition. They may ask about your medical history and conditions that are related to your family. They will likely run the following tests.

  • imaging studies, such as X-ray, CT, MRI, or PET scans
  • a biopsy, which involves taking a small sample from the tumor with a needle

A test that can confirm a diagnosis of angiosarcoma is a biopsy. A doctor is trained to use a microscope to determine the type and stage of cancer after a cancer surgery.

Your healthcare team will treat angiosarcoma aggressively. Treatment depends on whether the disease has spread to other organs or tissues.

Angiosarcoma that hasn’t spread is most often treated with surgery. Chemo or radiotherapy can sometimes be administered before or after the surgery.

If angiosarcoma has spread to other parts of your body, the main treatment approach will likely be chemotherapy.

Other approaches include:

The best way to prevent angiosarcoma is to avoid risk factors.

Some risk factors can be avoided. Genetic predisposition and radiotherapy can be used to treat other conditions.

However, you may reduce your risk by protecting your skin from the sun and limiting your exposure to certain chemicals, like vinyl chloride, arsenic, or thorium dioxide.

Angiosarcoma is a very aggressive, fast-growing tumor. Because it starts in your blood or The vessels of the body., it can spread very quickly to other tissues and organs. Once it’s spread, angiosarcoma is very difficult to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, the relative 5-year survival rate for soft tissue sarcomas that have not spread is 85%.

If the cancer spreads, the survival rate is only 65%. 15% is the survival rate for cancer that has spread.

Your situation is unique in terms of how far the cancer has spread and how your body responds to treatment. You should talk to your doctor to find out what your outlook is.

Angiosarcoma is a rare but aggressive type of cancer. It affects your blood and The vessels of the body.. It’s most often found on the skin of the head and neck.

Angiosarcomas of the skin can look like a bruise or a lesion.

Genetics, exposure to radiation and certain chemicals are some of the risk factors for this condition.

“The cancer can spread quickly and it can reduce survival rates. New treatments for angiosarcoma, such as targeted medications and immunotherapy, are promising and may extend people’s outlook.”