Wikipedia:
Hemangiosarcoma[1] is a rare, rapidly growing, highly invasive variety of
cancer. It is a blood-fed
sarcoma; that is, blood vessels grow directly into the tumor and it is typically filled with blood. A frequent cause of death is the rupturing of this tumor, causing the victim to rapidly bleed to death.
The term
angiosarcoma, when used without modifier, usually refers to hemangiosarcoma. However,
glomangiosarcoma (8710/3) and
lymphangiosarcoma (9170/3) are distinct conditions. Hemangiosarcomas are commonly associated with toxic exposure to
thorium dioxide (Thorotrast),
vinyl chloride, and
arsenic.
Stewart-Treves syndrome is a form of hemangiosarcoma due to
lymphedema, usually following
mastectomy and
radiotherapy for
breast cancer.
Hemangiosarcoma is quite common in
dogs, and more so in certain breeds of dogs including
German Shepherds and
Golden Retrievers.
[2] It also occurs in
cats, but is much more rare. Dogs with hemangiosarcoma rarely show clinical signs until the tumor has become very large and has
metastasized. Typically, clinical signs are due to hypovolaemia after the tumor ruptures, causing extensive bleeding. Owners of the affected dogs often discover that the dog has hemangiosarcoma only after the dog collapses.
The tumor most often appears on the
spleen, right
heart base, or
liver, although varieties also appear on the skin or in other locations. It is the most common tumor of the heart, and occurs in the
right atrium. Here it can cause right-sided
heart failure,
arrhythmias,
pericardial effusion, and
cardiac tamponade. Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen or
liver is the most common tumor to cause
hemorrhage in the
abdomen.
[3] Hemangiosarcoma of the
skin usually appears as a small red or bluish-black lump. It can also occur under the skin. It is suspected that in the skin, hemangiosarcoma is caused by
sun exposure.
[3] Occasionally, hemangiosarcoma of the skin can be a metastasis from visceral hemangiosarcoma. Other sites the tumor may occur include
bone, the
kidney, the
bladder,
muscle, the
mouth, and the
central nervous system.