Key result
A case of cutaneous angiosarcoma mimicking benign periorbital cellulitis presented with rapidly progressive unilateral periorbital oedema and was treated with palliative radiotherapy.
Why the study?
Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare malignant endothelial cell tumour whose subtle presentation can mimic benign conditions such as periorbital cellulitis.
Case Report (n=1)
Cutaneous angiosarcoma can mimic benign skin conditions like periorbital cellulitis and progress rapidly, highlighting the need for early biopsy in non-responding cases.
Rapidly progressive periorbital edema unresponsive to antibiotics warrants biopsy consideration; this case leaves open broader validation of the mimic.
Angiosarcoma is a rare form of malignant endothelial cell tumour characterised by rapidly infiltrating anaplastic cells of vascular or lymphatic origin. We report an uncommon case of cutaneous angiosarcoma (cAS) manifesting as rapidly progressive unilateral periorbital oedema. Due to the acute onset of disease, the patient was initially treated with antibiotics for presumed periorbital cellulitis. The lack of response to conservative management raised the suspicion of a more serious condition, which eventually revealed the diagnosis of angiosarcoma through skin biopsy. As suggested by several previous case reports, the subtle manifestation of cAS made it a great mimicker of benign skin conditions. This case report serves as a reminder to the aggressive nature of angiosarcoma which can lead to marked facial swelling within several weeks. As the tumour was not resectable by the time of diagnosis, the patient was offered palliative radiotherapy.
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Chow et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Cutaneous angiosarcoma (n=1). Palliative radiotherapy was evaluated. A case of cutaneous angiosarcoma mimicking benign periorbital cellulitis presented with rapidly progressive unilateral periorbital oedema and was treated with palliative radiotherapy.
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