# An Unexpected Late Recurrence of Breast Irradiation-Induced Angiosarcoma Following Autologous Microvascular Breast Reconstruction

## TL;DR

A woman developed a rare cancer recurrence 12 years after breast reconstruction using tissue from her abdomen, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring.

## Contribution

Reports a unique late recurrence of angiosarcoma after using non-irradiated tissue for breast reconstruction.

## Key findings

- Angiosarcoma recurred 12 years after microvascular breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue.
- The recurrence highlights the risk of late-onset complications in patients with a history of irradiation-induced angiosarcoma.
- Long-term surveillance is critical for managing this rare and aggressive tumor.

## Abstract

The authors present the case of a 68-year-old female who developed recurrent angiosarcoma, a rare but recognized complication after breast irradiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer. Microvascular breast reconstruction was performed after the completion of 10 years of disease-free clinical surveillance. Abdominal tissue was harvested and transferred onto the chest wall with restoration of its blood supply using microsurgical techniques to recreate the breast. Unexpectedly, local recurrence of irradiation-induced angiosarcoma was confirmed in the reconstructed breast 12 years later, a unique finding, given the long latent period and recruitment of tissues from a distant site. It is vital to consider the potential of late recurrence before embarking on complex reconstructions, and this should be discussed with patients who have a history of angiosarcoma. This further emphasizes the importance of long-term surveillance in such a rare, yet aggressive tumor at specialist centers.