Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) Practice Exam

What is a synonym for angiosarcoma?

1. Lymphangiomatosis

2. Stewart-Treves syndrome

3. Maffucci syndrome

4. Hennekam syndrome

The correct answer is: Stewart-Treves syndrome

The correct response is associated with Stewart-Treves syndrome, which is a condition often linked to angiosarcoma. Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that originates from the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. Stewart-Treves syndrome specifically refers to the development of angiosarcoma in patients who have chronic lymphedema, particularly as a result of breast cancer treatment leading to lymphedema in the arm. Understanding this connection is crucial, as it highlights the significance of monitoring patients with chronic lymphedema for potential malignancies like angiosarcoma. The other terms listed—lymphangiomatosis, Maffucci syndrome, and Hennekam syndrome—while related to lymphatic disorders, do not directly synonymize with angiosarcoma. Lymphangiomatosis refers to an abnormal proliferation of lymphatic vessels and is not a malignant condition. Maffucci syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by multiple enchondromas and soft tissue hemangiomas, and Hennekam syndrome involves lymphatic dysplasia and other syndromic features. None of these conditions serve as synonyms for angiosarcoma or are primarily associated with it in the context of malignancy.