Multifocal cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp—A challenging reconstructive case managed with skin substitutes

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) of the head and neck is a rare highly aggressive tumor, often associated with difficult local control of the disease and poor prognosis. This article describes a case of multifocal cutaneous AS of the scalp, mainly addressing its difficult surgical management and challenging reconstruction and concludes with a review of the literature. Methods: A 70-year-old Caucasian male was referred to our hospital with a growing scalp lesion initially suspected to be benign, but later diagnosed with AS. Results: The patient had tumor recurrence and a difficult reconstruction for which dermal substitutes proved very useful. Conclusion: AS can mimic a benign lesion in its early stages. Skin substitutes, namely dermal templates, can be useful to meet the complex needs of reconstruction and oncological surveillance of patients with AS.