Angiosarcomatous component in gliosarcoma: case report and consideration of diagnostic challenge and hemorrhagic propensity

An angiosarcomatous component in gliosarcoma may be associated with an increased intraoperative hemorrhagic risk and preoperative diagnostic challenge. We report a unique case of gliosarcoma with an angiosarcomatous component in a 61-year-old man. His brain MRI demonstrated a well-demarcated right occipital tumor with multiple flow voids and rim-like enhancement as well as intratumoral strip and nodular enhancements. He underwent a craniotomy for tumor resection. Intraoperatively, significant tumor hemorrhage required greater efforts to control intraoperative bleeding and to maintain hemostasis. Pathological examination of the tumor revealed alternating gliomatous and sarcomatous/angiosarcomatous components with intratumoral hemorrhage. He was postoperatively treated with chemoradiation. The tumor recurred at 9 months, for which the second resection was performed with similarly greater efforts to achieve hemostasis. The recurrent tumor was pathologically similar despite treatment-associated changes. Awareness of this angiosarcomatous component in gliosarcoma with the hemorrhagic risk is important for both the preoperative diagnosis and surgical management.