Abstract
Stewart-Treves syndrome (STS) is a rare but aggressive upper extremity lymphangiosarcoma
in postmastectomy patients. Unfamiliarity with this disease and the innocuous appearance
of the tumor often lead to delayed diagnosis. A comprehensive search of the databases
at a single tertiary-care academic institution revealed only 3 cases of STS in the
last 63 years. The latency time between breast cancer treatment and diagnosis of STS
was 11 to 21 years. Survival after diagnosis of STS ranged from 8 to 15 months. One
patient underwent radical surgery. The extensive lymphangiosarcoma in the other 2
patients precluded surgical resection and they underwent chemotherapy. All patients
had adjuvant radiation therapy at the time of the original breast cancer resection.
This report includes a discussion of the epidemiology, etiology, presentation, treatment,
and prognosis of STS. (J Hand Surg 2000;25A:1163-1168. Copyright © 2000 by the American
Society for Surgery of the Hand.)
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 21,
2000
Received:
December 27,
1999
Footnotes
*No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
**Reprint requests: Kevin C. Chung, MD, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, 2130 TC, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0340.
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
