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Post‐irradiation morphoea of the breast: a case report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
GonzalezEricsson Paula I,
Estrada Monica V,
AlRohil Rami,
Sanders Melinda E
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/his.13343
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , lumpectomy , breast cancer , lymphedema , radiodermatitis , complication , biopsy , inflammatory breast cancer , mastectomy , surgery , radiology , cancer , dermatology
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.