Primary Angiosarcoma of the Parotid Gland

Angiosarcoma is an exceedingly rare and highly malignant neoplasm which develops from the endothelium of blood vessels. Only a few cases of primary angiosarcoma of the non-irradiated parotid gland have been reported. In this case, we report a primary angiosarcoma of the parotid gland in a 64-year-old man without prior irradiation of the head and neck region. MRI finding revealed a 3.9×2.7 cm sized mass located in the right parotid gland with unhomogenous enhancement in T2 weighted image. The patient underwent a total parotidectomy and radical neck dissection. The histologic diagnosis was high-grade angiosarcoma showing pleomorphic spindle or epithelioid tumor cells growing as solid infiltrative pattern or slit-like irregular vascular lumina formation. Despite postoperative radiation therapy, the patient died of lung metastasis with hemorrhage 3 months later. (Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2008;51:838-41)