Identifying Angiosarcoma symptoms is difficult since there are few obvious symptoms until the cancer is extremely advanced and there are few symptoms that directly indicate the presence of tumor.  Angiosarcoma can take years to develop and can affect a number of systems and organs within the body. The signs and symptoms of Angiosarcoma differ according to the location of the tumor.

A patient’s history can be very important in a diagnosis as exposure to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, radiation, or other chemicals can point to a need to explore the symptoms to a different level. These carcinogens begin the damage at the cellular level and it may take many years before the tumors appear.

A series of cellular growth disorders occur at the cellular level. These underpin much of the subsequent course in Angiosarcoma. A group of cells display uncontrolled growth and division beyond the normal limits and this can lead to intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues. Sometimes these cancer cells spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood.

One type of Angiosarcoma is a Hemangiosarcoma which is a tumor in which blood vessels grow directly into the tumor. This can lead to symptoms of blood disorders. Uncontrolled growth and division of blood cells can cause bleeding and deficiency of platelets with small blood clots developing and blocking small blood vessels. This depletes platelets and clotting factors leading to excessive bleeding. Anemia, one of the more common blood disorders, occurs when the level of healthy red blood cells in the body becomes too low. This can lead to health problems because red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body's tissues. Anemia can cause a variety of symptoms including fatigue and stress on bodily organs.

• Advanced Angiosarcoma of the skin, bone, or surrounding tissues is easier to diagnose. Some of the symptoms may include: fatigue, anemia, reduction of red blood cells, a lump or swelling under the skin, skin lesions, bone pain, dull aches or stabbing pains. Internal Angiosarcomas are much more difficult to diagnose, but usually grow into large tumors very quickly. Unfortunately, once the tumor is developed enough to display symptoms, treatment is usually ineffective.
  Angiosarcomas arising at different sites and in different organs have some distinct features.

• Skin: People with Angiosarcoma of the skin frequently develop large, unmistakable lesions at the site of the tumor. which makes diagnosis much easier.  Symptoms may include an enlarging bruise, a blue-black nodule, or unhealed ulceration. Patients will frequently complain of pain at the site of the tumor, and frequently there is significant discharge of blood, lymph, or other fluids.
• Bone: Angiosarcoma of the bone can weaken the bone making it susceptible to breaking. The tumors may grow on multiple bones of the same extremity. Symptoms may include pain, swelling and tenderness of the affected area.
• Liver: Liver Angiosarcoma is usually asymptomatic in the early stage. As the disease progresses hepatic dysfunctions appear as well as increasing loss of appetite, weight loss, and jaundice. There may be upper quadrant pain.
• Soft Tissue: Abdominal Angiosarcoma may rapidly grow to a large size in the abdomen before being detected. Symptoms may include hemorrhage, anemia, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The adjacent lymph nodes may be enlarged.

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 See Also:

• Vinyl Chloride Angiosarcoma
• What Is Angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma Law Blog