Angiosarcoma: Types and Symptoms

Identifying Angiosarcoma symptoms is difficult since there are few obvious symptoms until the cancer is extremely advanced and there are few symptoms that directly indicate the presence of tumor.  Angiosarcoma can take years to develop and can affect a number of systems and organs within the body. The signs and symptoms of Angiosarcoma differ according to the location of the tumor.

A history of exposure to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, radiation, or other chemicals is important to learn about during diagnosis so that symptoms msy be explored more deeply. Carcinogens begin cellular level damage that may take years to develop into tumors.

Disorders occur in a series at the cellular level. These form the foundation for the course of Angiosarcoma. A group of cells display uncontrolled growth and division beyond the normal limits and this can lead to intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues. Sometimes these cancer cells spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood.

One type of Angiosarcoma is a Hemangiosarcoma which is a tumor in which blood vessels grow directly into the tumor. Blood disorders and their symptoms may result. Uncontrolled growth and division of blood cells can cause bleeding and deficiency of platelets with small blood clots developing and blocking small blood vessels. This depletes platelets and clotting factors leading to excessive bleeding. One of the more common blood disorders, anemia, occurs when the healthy red blood cell level become too low in the body. Health problems may result because the red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Fatigue and stress of body organs may result from the anemia.

Diagnosis of angiosarcomas that have advanced into the bone, skin or surrounding tissues becomes easier. Some of the symptoms may include: fatigue, anemia, reduction of red blood cells, a lump or swelling under the skin, skin lesions, bone pain, dull aches or stabbing pains. Angiosarcomas that are internal are difficult to diagnose but may grow, quickly, into large tumors. When the tumor has developed to the point of displaying symptoms, treatment is usually not effective.

Angiosarcomas arising at different sites and in different organs have some distinct features.

• Skin: People with Angiosarcoma of the skin frequently develop large, unmistakable lesions at the site of the tumor, which makes diagnosis much easier.The symptoms include enlarged bruises, nodules that are blue-black and ulcerations that do not heal. Pain at the site of the tumor is a frequent complain and there is often a significant discharge of blood lymph or other fluids.
• Bone: Angiosarcoma of the bone can weaken the bone making it susceptible to breaking. Multiple bones of the same extremity may grow tumors. Pain, swelling and tenderness in the area affected are all symptoms.
• Liver: Liver Angiosarcoma is usually asymptomatic in the early stage. Hepatic dysfunctions appear as the disease progresses and with it comes an increasing loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice. The person may experience pain in the upper quadrant.
• Soft Tissue: Abdominal Angiosarcoma may rapidly grow to a large size in the abdomen before being detected. Hemorrhage, anemia and gastrointestinal bleeding are some of the symptoms that may occur. The adjacent lymph nodes may be enlarged.