Transvaginal Needle Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Radiation-Induced Angiosarcoma in Cervical Cancer: Utility and Role of Next-Generation Sequencing

TL;DR

A transvaginal needle biopsy helped diagnose a rare radiation-induced cancer in a cervical cancer patient, with genetic analysis revealing key mutations.

Contribution

Demonstrates the utility of transvaginal needle biopsy and NGS in diagnosing radiation-induced angiosarcoma.

Findings

Transvaginal needle biopsy successfully diagnosed angiosarcoma in a post-CCRT cervical cancer patient.

Next-generation sequencing identified somatic genetic mutations in the biopsy specimen.

Needle biopsy can guide treatment decisions in rare radiation-induced cancers.

Abstract

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is a common treatment for advanced cervical cancer, and angiosarcoma rarely occurs at the irradiated site. We report a case of angiosarcoma diagnosed via a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of a mass in the rectovaginal space, which developed five years after CCRT in a patient with stage IIIB cervical cancer. The biopsy specimen was analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS), which identified relevant somatic genetic mutations. This case highlights the value of needle biopsy as a useful diagnostic tool and its potential role in guiding treatment decisions.

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