Angiosarcoma


Malignant vascular neoplasms, distinct from Kaposi’s sarcoma, are not related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and can arise anywhere in the body. Although the oral cavity is an extremely rare site for such tumors, those that occur will (if superficial) appear red, blue, or purple. They are rapidly proliferative and therefore present as nodular tumors. Angiosarcomas can arise from blood or lymph vessel endothelial cells or from pericytic cells of the vasculature. They have a poor prognosis and are treated by radical excision.