Erythema of the skin after breast radiotherapy: It is not always recurrence

Abstract

Recurrence of breast cancer is a predominant fear for patients who were treated for breast cancer. Acute and late dermatologic effects of radiotherapy are not uncommon and could have similar characteristics to breast cancer recurrence. Thus, it is important to highlight key differences between the clinical and histologic presentations of radiation effects and recurrence. Herein, we present two patients who presented with late dermatologic effects of radiotherapy months to years after treatment, neither of whom had workup consistent with cancer recurrence. We provide clinical and microscopic descriptions of each case and provide a review to differentiate various dermatologic conditions. This report aims to outline potential late dermatologic effects of radiation treatment and emphasise that changes in the breast do not always signal breast cancer recurrence.

Pseudolymphoma of the nipple treated with topical imiquimod and cryotherapy

“…The nipple is a difficult skin area to treat because injections of corticosteroids can cause subcutaneous fat atrophy, and radiation therapy to the breast has been documented to induce dermal sclerosis, dimpling, and lymphedema. 2 , 3 To our knowledge, this is the first report of topical imiquimod as an effective treatment for pseudolymphoma. Imiquimod is an immunomodulator 4 that binds to toll-like receptor 7 expressed in antigen-presenting cells, which induce innate and adaptive immunity and stimulates cytokine production.…”

Alterações Dermatológicas Durante Tratamento Oncológico de Mulheres com Câncer de Mama: Estudo em Prontuários Clínicos

“…Os casos severos de radiodermites podem levar à interrupção da radioterapia e ao aumento da mortalidade pelo câncer, além de reduzir a qualidade de vida das pacientes 23 . Protocolos clínicos envolvendo aplicações tópicas de corticosteroides e sulfadiazina de prata 1% durante a radioterapia podem reduzir a ocorrência dessas alterações cutâneas na mama, embora possam se manifestar meses ou anos após o início tratamento com radiação ionizante 23,24 .…”

“…Além disso, a administração concomitante de terapias sistêmicas deve ser considerada para mensurar esses desfechos. Por fim, é importante considerar e informar às pacientes que as alterações dermatológicas na mama após a radioterapia, especialmente eritemas, nem sempre significam recorrência da doença 23,24 .…”

Advances and trends of hydrogel therapy platform in localized tumor treatment: A review

“…And the injectable property could also lessen the trauma, thereby reducing the postoperative infection possibility. Photo‐triggered methods (e.g., PTT, PDT) are also less invasive, saving patients from skin tumor occurrences and damages to body function usually brought by conventional irradiation rays 103 . Besides, the severe side effect caused by antineoplastic drugs is another clinical problem that hinders patients' health recovery.…”