Angiosarcoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Angiosarcoma?
An oncologist, a cancer doctor, treats angiosarcoma. Care often involves a surgeon and sometimes a radiation oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer with radiation. This rare cancer is fast-growing, so a team of cancer experts treats it. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is angiosarcoma?
Angiosarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the inner lining of blood vessels and lymph vessels. This cancer can occur anywhere in the body but most often is in the skin, breast, liver and spleen. It is a fast-growing cancer, so doctors treat it aggressively.
Angiosarcomas make up about 1% to 2% of all sarcomas. Sarcomas are an uncommon type of cancer that start from bone or soft tissues, like muscle, fat, nerves, or blood vessels. For every million people, one will be diagnosed with angiosarcoma per year in the U.S. It is most common in people over age 70 but can happen at any age.
Symptoms
Angiosarcomas often look like a bruised, purple-ish area on the skin. These areas may bleed easily when they are scratched or bumped. They grow larger over time, and the skin around the bruised area can swell. You may have pain in the area where the tumor is growing. Sometimes you can feel the lump.
If the angiosarcoma grows deeper in your body, such as in the liver, you may not notice as many symptoms. As the cancer grows, it may cause a lump or swelling that keeps growing over time. Pain can happen if it presses on a nerve, organ, blood vessel, bone, or muscle. Breathing problems can also happen.
Causes and who gets it
It is not known what causes most sarcomas. But there are some known risk factors for angiosarcoma:
- Lymphedema, a problem in which extra lymph fluid builds up in tissues, causing swelling, usually in the arms or legs.
- Past radiation therapy, such as treatment for breast cancer or Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Exposure to some cancer-causing chemicals, such as vinyl chloride.
Angiosarcoma can sometimes run in families. Scientists have found that people with a change in a gene called POT1 may develop angiosarcoma of the heart. This change can be passed on to their children.
How doctors diagnose it
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and examine you. Imaging scans such as MRI, CT, or PET scan show the tumor's size and location.
To check if the tumor is angiosarcoma, your doctor will perform a biopsy. The doctor takes a small sample from the tumor with a needle. A pathologist, a doctor who studies cells under a microscope, then sees what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy shows if cancer is present and how quickly it is growing. Staging tests show how much cancer is present and whether it has spread.
Treatment
Angiosarcoma is a fast-growing cancer, so your doctors will treat it fast and hard.
- Surgery: Doctors remove as much of the cancer as they can, but sometimes the location makes this impossible.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation can be used around the time of surgery. It aims at the tumor area to stop it from growing back after it is removed. It may also be used if the cancer cannot be removed with surgery.
- Chemotherapy: If the cancer has spread, chemotherapy may be used to kill the cancer cells. It may also be combined with radiation if surgery is not possible.
These treatments can cause side effects. Doctors and scientists are developing new treatments for angiosarcoma.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor about any lump that grows in size or is painful, or about a bruised-looking skin area that bleeds easily. Call 911 right away if a tumor makes it hard to breathe, if bleeding will not stop, or if you have sudden, severe belly pain or fainting.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. This doctor can watch for new lumps or skin changes and help coordinate care among your cancer specialists. They can also manage your overall health during treatment.
Common questions
Is angiosarcoma treatable?
Yes, doctors can treat it, but it is a fast-growing cancer, so they treat it fast and hard with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Doctors remove as much of the cancer as they can, but sometimes the location makes this impossible. New treatments are also being developed.
Does angiosarcoma run in families?
It can sometimes run in families. People with a change in a gene called POT1 may develop angiosarcoma of the heart, and this change can be passed on to their children.
Where does angiosarcoma grow?
It can occur anywhere in the body but most often is in the skin, breast, liver and spleen. Angiosarcomas are sometimes seen in the breast after radiation therapy or in limbs with chronic swelling.
What is the outlook for people with angiosarcoma?
Outlook depends on where the tumor is, if the cancer has spread, and how much of the tumor was removed with surgery. Many people are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, which often means a worse outlook.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute - Angiosarcoma
- MedlinePlus - Adult soft tissue sarcoma
- American Cancer Society - Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
