MYC amplification in angiosarcomas arising in the setting of chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity

BACKGROUND: Angiosarcoma is a malignancy of vascular endothelial cells which may arise secondarily as a complication of lymphedema, including chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity. Amplifications in MYC are frequently present in secondary angiosarcoma (arising in irradiated sites and chronic lymphedema) and less frequently in primary cutaneous angiosarcoma. OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of MYC amplifications in two cases of cutaneous angiosarcoma secondary to chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity. METHODS: This study is a case series of two patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma. Clinical data was retrieved from the medical records. Histopathological analysis of the biopsy specimens was performed, including immunohistochemistry, along with fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Angiosarcoma arose in the setting of massive chronic lymphedema complicating morbid obesity without other predisposing risk factors. Both cases exhibited epithelioid cell morphology and high-level MYC amplification. CONCLUSION: We report MYC amplification in two cases of angiosarcoma arising in massive chronic lymphedema of morbid obesity.