Two cases of radiation-induced cutaneous angiosarcoma

We report two cases of radiation-induced cutaneous angiosarcoma that occurred years after radiotherapy for pelvic cancer. The tumors in both cases were inoperable because of the poor performance status of the patient or the extent of the lesion. We treated the tumors with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The chemotherapy consisted of the weekly administration of 70 mg/m(2) paclitaxel. Both patients received radiotherapy at the prescribed dose of 50 Gy in 2.0-Gy fractions. Two months after the treatment, the lesions of both cases diminished or disappeared. However, a few months after the treatment, both patients suffered from in-field local recurrence and distant metastases, and they subsequently died of their distant metastases. The initial responses of two cases to concurrent chemoradiotherapy were good, and their quality of life was improved without severe complication. Although the long-term control of radiation-induced cutaneous angiosarcoma was difficult, chemoradiotherapy was one of the safe and effective palliative treatments.