Angiosarcoma of the face and scalp.

Angiosarcoma of the face and scalp developed in 12 patients. The patients were five women and seven men with an average age of 71 years. Initial features were solitary or multiple violaceous vascular nodules or plaques. The clinical course was complicated by ulceration, secondary infection, bleeding, anemia, infiltration into the underlying bones, tumor cachexia, and death. Metastases were not observed. Histologically, seemingly benign hemangiomatous capillary-like structures were found in some areas of the tumors, with richly cellular, solid sarcomatous proliferations in other areas. Early and extensive surgical excision is the therapy of choice, but generally it does not alter the relentless course of the disease. Neither palliative radiation therapy nor polychemotherapy is capable of interfering with tumor progression.