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Liver angiosarcoma

Summary

Liver angiosarcoma also known as angiosarcoma of the liver or hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare and rapidly fatal cancer arising from endothelial that line the blood vessels of the liver. It is a type of angiosarcoma. Although very rare with around 200 cases diagnosed each year, it is still considered the third most common primary liver cancer, making up around 2% of all primary liver cancers. Liver angiosarcoma can be primary (referred to in literature as PHA or primary hepatic angiosarcoma), meaning it arose in the liver, or secondary, meaning the angiosarcoma arose elsewhere and metastasized to the liver.[2] This article covers PHA, however much is also applicable to secondary tumors.

Liver angiosarcoma
Other namesHepatic angiosarcoma, angiosarcoma of the liver
Specimen of a surgically removed and dissected liver angiosarcoma with visible necrosis and bleeding
SpecialtyOncology
SymptomsAsymptomatic, abdominal pain, weight loss, anorexia, fatigue
ComplicationsDisseminated intravascular coagulation, tumor rupture
Usual onsetAge 60-70
CausesUnknown, exposure to arsenic, thorotrast, vinyl chloride
Diagnostic methodBiopsy, imaging
Differential diagnosisHemangioma, hepatocellular carcinoma[1]
TreatmentSurgery, chemotherapy
PrognosisPoor, most die within 6 months[2][3]
Frequency200 new diagnoses per year worldwide

Signs and symptoms edit

Liver angiosarcoma usually presents with vague and non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension (which are the two most common symptoms, occurring in around 60% of individuals[3]), weight loss, fatigue or abdominal masses and liver disease like symptoms such as fever, malaise, anorexia and vomiting.[2]

Paradoxically, liver function is generally maintained until the final stages of the disease, further complicating diagnosis.[4]

Complications edit

Spontaneous tumor rupture resulting in severe intra-abdominal bleeding and hemoperitoneum is a possibly fatal complication of liver angiosarcoma and is reported in 15–27% of patients. Thrombocytopenia, anemia and the vascular nature of the tumor may contribute to this. Tumor rupture generally carries a very poor prognosis even when bleeding is stopped by means of emergency transcathether arterial embolization (TAE), an analysis of four patients showed a median survival of 23 days following tumor rupture.[5][6][2][7] Due to the close and similarly vascular nature of the spleen, metastasis to it is common and therefore intra-abdominal bleeding may also be caused by splenic rupture.[4]

Liver angiosarcoma may also result in liver failure, a potentially fatal complication.[8]

Like many cancers, liver angiosarcoma can also cause disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).[2][9][10][11][12]

Causes edit

Most liver angiosarcoma cases are of unknown etiology, making up around 75% of cases.[2]

Despite this, several things are associated with liver angiosarcoma. Exposure to vinyl chloride, arsenic, thorotrast, radium, phenylhydrazine and use of androgens is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of liver angiosarcoma.[2] Cyclophosphamide,[4] diethylstilbestrol and oral contraceptives use are also associated with liver angiosarcoma.[13][2]

In addition liver angiosarcoma is associated with hemochromatosis (iron overload)[14] and neurofibromatosis.[2][15]

A 2007 case report suggests a possible link between Schistosoma japonicum liver fibrosis and liver angiosarcoma.[4][16]

A study in Taiwan found no evidence to suggest that viral hepatitis a significant role in the pathogenesis of liver angiosarcoma.[2][17]

Diagnosis edit

CD31 is considered the most reliable tumor marker for liver angiosarcoma.[2]

Differential diagnosis edit

Differential diagnosis includes hemangioma,[1] Kaposi's sarcoma, metastatic angiosarcoma of non liver origin, secondary liver cancer from any origin and hepatocellular carcinoma.[2]

Treatment edit

Complete surgical resection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy is considered to be the most effective treatment of liver angiosarcoma.[13]

Transcathether arterial embolization (TAE), blocking an artery with the help of a catheter to prevent further bleeding or limit blood supply to the tumor, resulting in suppressed growth, is the most effective treatment for spontaneous rupture of the tumor resulting in intra-abdominal bleeding. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), which is the same as TAE, but also involves the regional injection of chemotherapy drugs, has shown effectiveness at increasing survival, particularly in individuals with few dominant masses rather than several smaller.[2][4][5] TACE allows for simultaneously increasing regional (and therefore also tumor) exposure to chemotherapy while reducing systemic exposure, which both allows for an increased dose, as systemic exposure is generally the limiting factor, and also reduced side effects of chemotherapy. TACE and TAE are both generally performed on the hepatic artery.[18]

Liver angiosarcomas are generally reported to be radioresistant and therefore radiation therapy is not considered an effective treatment.[5][2][7]

Although previously considered a viable treatment option, liver transplantation is no longer considered for liver angiosarcoma, due to its high reoccurrence rate and poor post transplantation survival.[14] The European Liver Transplant Registry considers liver angiosarcoma an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation,[15] reporting that the median survival following liver transplantation is less than 7 months with no one surviving more than 23 months, showing very little difference from no treatment at all.[2][6]

Prognosis edit

Due to the aggressive nature and high recurrence rate, the prognosis for liver angiosarcoma is generally very poor. Most patients die within six months and only 3% live more than two years.[2]

A recent case report suggest that the prognosis of liver angiosarcoma may be improving.[19]

Epidemiology edit

Although liver angiosarcoma can affect anyone, most people affected are 60–70 years old. Males are affected more often than women at a ratio of 3-4:1,[14][20] although in children, girls are affected more commonly than boys.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Yasir, Saba; Torbenson, Michael S. (May 2019). "Angiosarcoma of the Liver: Clinicopathologic Features and Morphologic Patterns". The American Journal of Surgical Pathology. 43 (5): 581–590. doi:10.1097/PAS.0000000000001228. ISSN 1532-0979. PMID 30986799. S2CID 86577531. Archived from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Chaudhary, P.; Bhadana, U.; Singh, R. a. K.; Ahuja, A. (September 2015). "Primary hepatic angiosarcoma". European Journal of Surgical Oncology: The Journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. 41 (9): 1137–1143. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2015.04.022. ISSN 1532-2157. PMID 26008857. Archived from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  3. ^ a b Zeng, Dong; Cheng, Jianan; Gong, Zhihua; Chen, Jianghong; Long, Haixia; Zhu, Bo (2020-05-05). "A pooled analysis of primary hepatic angiosarcoma". Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 50 (5): 556–567. doi:10.1093/jjco/hyaa017. ISSN 1465-3621. PMID 32083280.
  4. ^ a b c d e Zheng, Ya-Wen; Zhang, Xin-Wei; Zhang, Jia-Li; Hui, Zhen-Zhen; Du, Wei-Jiao; Li, Run-Mei; Ren, Xiu-Bao (May 2014). "Primary hepatic angiosarcoma and potential treatment options". Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 29 (5): 906–911. doi:10.1111/jgh.12506. ISSN 1440-1746. PMID 24372769. S2CID 12049352.
  5. ^ a b c Zhu, Yi-Ping; Chen, Yan-Min; Matro, Erik; Chen, Ren-Biao; Jiang, Zhi-Nong; Mou, Yi-Ping; Hu, Hong-Jie; Huang, Chao-Jie; Wang, Guan-Yu (2015-05-21). "Primary hepatic angiosarcoma: A report of two cases and literature review". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 21 (19): 6088–6096. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i19.6088. ISSN 1007-9327. PMC 4438048. PMID 26019478.
  6. ^ a b Schueler, Samuel A.; Hwang, Daniel G.; Twaddell, William; Raufman, Jean-Pierre; Urrunaga, Nathalie H. (February 2020). "Angiosarcoma: A rare cause of acute liver failure". Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology. 44 (1): e14–e16. doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2019.06.014. ISSN 2210-741X. PMID 31296397. S2CID 195893978. Archived from the original on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  7. ^ a b Chien, Chin-Ying; Hwang, Cheng-Cheng; Yeh, Chun-Nan; Chen, Huang-Yang; Wu, Jui-Teng; Cheung, Chan-Siu; Lin, Chih-Lang; Yen, Cho-Li; Wang, Wen-Yen; Chiang, Kun-Chun (2012-01-26). "Liver angiosarcoma, a rare liver malignancy, presented with intraabdominal bleeding due to rupture--a case report". World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 10: 23. doi:10.1186/1477-7819-10-23. ISSN 1477-7819. PMC 3292925. PMID 22280556.
  8. ^ Abegunde, Ayokunle T.; Aisien, Efe; Mba, Benjamin; Chennuri, Rohini; Sekosan, Marin (2015). "Fulminant Hepatic Failure Secondary to Primary Hepatic Angiosarcoma". Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine. 2015: 869746. doi:10.1155/2015/869746. ISSN 2090-6528. PMC 4359886. PMID 25815217.
  9. ^ Wadhwa, Sanya; Kim, Tae Hun; Lin, Leah; Kanel, Gary; Saito, Takeshi (2017-04-07). "Hepatic angiosarcoma with clinical and histological features of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 23 (13): 2443–2447. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i13.2443. ISSN 2219-2840. PMC 5385411. PMID 28428724.
  10. ^ Fernando, Nadeeshani; Butcherine, Kylie; Harle, Robin; Ritchey, Donald (August 2019). "Mysterious abdominal pain and disseminated intravascular coagulation due to hepatic angiosarcoma". Internal Medicine Journal. 49 (8): 1053–1054. doi:10.1111/imj.14382. ISSN 1445-5994. PMID 31387140. S2CID 199467800. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  11. ^ Mazharuddin, Samir; Podduturi, Varsha; Guileyardo, Joseph M.; Cooper, Barry (January 2015). "Hepatic angiosarcoma associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation". Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center). 28 (1): 54–56. doi:10.1080/08998280.2015.11929186. ISSN 0899-8280. PMC 4264711. PMID 25552799.
  12. ^ Rosen, Emily A.; Vallurupalli, Mounica; Choy, Edwin; Lennerz, Jochen K.; Kuter, David J. (2018-11-21). "Management of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a patient with hepatic angiosarcoma". Medicine. 97 (47): e13321. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000013321. ISSN 0025-7974. PMC 6392710. PMID 30461646.
  13. ^ a b Millan, Mauricio; Delgado, Alejandro; Caicedo, Luis A.; Arrunategui, Ana M.; Meneses, Carlos A.; Villegas, Jorge I.; Serrano, Oscar; Caicedo, Liliana; Duque, Mauricio; Echeverri, Gabriel J. (2016-09-29). "Liver Angiosarcoma: Rare tumour associated with a poor prognosis, literature review and case report". International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 28: 165–168. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2016.09.044. ISSN 2210-2612. PMC 5061303. PMID 27718433.
  14. ^ a b c Maluf, D.; Cotterell, A.; Clark, B.; Stravitz, T.; Kauffman, H. M.; Fisher, R. A. (June 2005). "Hepatic angiosarcoma and liver transplantation: case report and literature review". Transplantation Proceedings. 37 (5): 2195–2199. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.03.060. ISSN 0041-1345. PMID 15964377. Archived from the original on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  15. ^ a b Orlando, Giuseppe; Adam, Rene; Mirza, Darius; Soderdahl, Goran; Porte, Robert J.; Paul, Andreas; Burroughs, Andrew K.; Seiler, Christian A.; Colledan, Michele; Graziadei, Ivo; Garcia Valdecasas, Juan-Carlos (2013-03-27). "Hepatic hemangiosarcoma: an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation--the European Liver Transplant Registry experience". Transplantation. 95 (6): 872–877. doi:10.1097/TP.0b013e318281b902. ISSN 1534-6080. PMID 23354302. S2CID 2375015.
  16. ^ Wang, Ze-Sheng; Wang, Wei-Xing; Xiong, Cheng-Long; Zhan, Na; Li, Hui (July 2007). "Spontaneous ruptured primary hepatic angiosarcoma coincident with Schistosoma Japonica liver fibrosis". Hepatology Research. 37 (7): 572–576. doi:10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00067.x. ISSN 1386-6346. PMID 17540001. S2CID 43274169. Archived from the original on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  17. ^ Huang, Neng-Chyan; Wann, Shue-Ren; Chang, Hong-Tai; Lin, Shoa-Lin; Wang, Jyh-Seng; Guo, How-Ran (2011-12-26). "Arsenic, vinyl chloride, viral hepatitis, and hepatic angiosarcoma: a hospital-based study and review of literature in Taiwan". BMC Gastroenterology. 11: 142. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-11-142. ISSN 1471-230X. PMC 3280174. PMID 22200164.
  18. ^ Guan, Yong-Song; He, Qing; Wang, Ming-Quan (2012-08-26). "Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: History for More than 30 Years". ISRN Gastroenterology. 2012: 480650. doi:10.5402/2012/480650. ISSN 2090-4398. PMC 3433134. PMID 22966466.
  19. ^ Huang, Neng-Chyan; Kuo, Yau-Chang; Chiang, Jui-Chin; Hung, Shih-Yuan; Wang, Huay-Min; Hung, Yao-Min; Chang, Yun-Te; Wann, Shue-Ren; Chang, Hong-Tai; Wang, Jyh-Seng; Ho, Sheng-Yow (May 2015). "Hepatic angiosarcoma may have fair survival nowadays". Medicine. 94 (19): e816. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000816. ISSN 1536-5964. PMC 4602568. PMID 25984668.
  20. ^ Averbukh, Leon D.; Mavilia, Marianna G.; Einstein, Michael M. (2018-09-11). "Hepatic Angiosarcoma: A Challenging Diagnosis". Cureus. 10 (9): e3283. doi:10.7759/cureus.3283. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 6235643. PMID 30443453.

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