Case report: Angiosarcoma of the cervical spine

Abstract

Angiosarcomas (ASs) are rare malignant vascular tumours, which only occasionally occur in the spine. The prognosis is generally poor due to rarity of the condition as well as lack of data of treatment options. We present the case of a 75-year old man with a primary angiosarcoma of C2 and C3 who underwent occipito-cervical (to C6) fixation. A first biopsy did not result in a diagnosis and a further anterior approach with repeat biopsy had to be undertaken.

The patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and at 6-month follow-up there was no radiological progression of the angiosarcoma.

ASs are a rare condition and due to paucity of data relating to management cases should be reported to aid understanding and development of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.