Radiotherapy-Associated Cutaneous Mastocytosis in a Patient With Breast Carcinoma. Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Mast cell skin disease is rarely described after external beam radiation therapy in patients with breast carcinoma, with only 7 previous reports in the literature. Skin changes typically occur within (but are not limited to) the radiation field. We present a 64-year-old woman with postradiotherapy cutaneous mastocytosis on the left breast and adjacent chest wall. The clinical and laboratory findings in all reported patients, including the current case, are reviewed. No clear mechanism has been presented to explain disease pathogenesis; although, mast cell accumulation secondary to local mediators produced in response to radiation damage and/or koebnerization phenomenon have been proposed. Cutaneous/systemic mastocytosis is not widely recognized and may be underdiagnosed in the setting of postradiation for breast cancer. It is important for clinicians and pathologists to be aware of this diagnosis for patients presenting with rashes after radiotherapy.