Differentiating Hemangioma and Secondary Angiosarcoma of the Breast: Two Case Reports

Angiosarcoma (AS) of the breast is a rare malignancy arising from the vascular endothelium. It can develop as a primary tumor or as a secondary tumor, the latter of which is most commonly associated with prior radiation therapy. AS may present in the breast as a palpable mass, unilateral diffuse breast enlargement, skin thickening, erythema, plaque-like violaceous discoloration, or painful nodules. The imaging features of AS vary across imaging modalities. Because AS of the breast is aggressive and prone to early metastasis, prompt detection is crucial to the improvement of generally low five-year survival rates. In this paper, we share one case of AS of the breast and one of a common mimic, hemangioma, with associated imaging and key clinical details that can aid radiologists in the timely identification and diagnosis of AS of the breast.