Post-irradiation morphoea of the breast: a case report and review of the literature.

Paula I Gonzalez-Ericsson, Monica V Estrada, Rami Al-Rohil, Melinda E Sanders
Author Information
  1. Paula I Gonzalez-Ericsson: Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
  2. Monica V Estrada: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
  3. Rami Al-Rohil: Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
  4. Melinda E Sanders: Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. ORCID

Abstract

We describe a 44-year-old female with triple-negative breast cancer who developed skin erythaema, sclerosis and contracture of her entire right breast 15 months after completion of post-lumpectomy chemotherapy and radiotherapy, consistent with post-irradiation morphoea (PIM). PIM is a rare complication of breast irradiation that impairs a patient's quality of life. PIM is located usually at the radiation port or in the surrounding tissue. Clinically, PIM is misdiagnosed commonly as lymphoedema and cellulitis in the early inflammatory phase, and recurrent breast cancer, chronic radiodermatitis (CRD), radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF), post-irradiation pseudosclerodermatous panniculitis (PIPP), atypical vascular lesions (AVL) or angiosarcoma (AS) in the late burnout phase. Arriving at the correct diagnosis typically requires a multidisciplinary approach, including a skin biopsy for confirmation. To date, satisfactory treatment of this condition has been challenging. and the clinical outcome after therapy is often unsatisfactory.

Keywords

MeSH Term

Adult
Female
Humans
Radiation Injuries
Scleroderma, Localized
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms

Word Cloud

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