Cutaneous angiosarcoma with thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia was observed in 3 patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp and face. A sudden decrease in the platelet count occurred in association with rapid enlargement of primary or metastatic lesions. Neither antiplatelet antibody nor platelet-associated IgG was detected. Increased serum levels of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 indicated that platelets were destroyed and consumed within the vascular bed of the tumor. Prominent PECAM-1 expression on tumor cells may be involved in intratumoral platelet aggregation and consumption. We suggest that the sudden development of profund thrombocytopenia in patients with angiosarcoma may suggest either rapid growth of the primary tumor or herald the development of metastatic disease.