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Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie 11/2018

Open Access 01-11-2018 | Case Study

Radiation-induced morphea—a rare but severe late effect of adjuvant breast irradiation

Case report and review of the literature

Authors: Richard Partl, Peter Regitnig, Gerlinde Tauber, Michaela Pötscher, Vesna Bjelic-Radisic, Karin S. Kapp

Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie | Issue 11/2018

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Abstract

Background

Radiation-induced morphea (RIM) is a circumscribed localized scleroderma that occurs most often in the breast. After an asymptomatic period of one month to several years, the symptoms (circumscribed inflammation, edema, sclerosis) often arise suddenly and cannot be clinically distinguished from a local recurrence in the form of inflammatory carcinoma.

Case

We present a case of a 74-year-old woman who developed this rare and serious local side-effect in connective tissue following neoadjuvant CDK 4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib (Verzenio®) and aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (Arimidex®) therapy and subsequent radiation therapy of the breast.

Conclusions

Little is known about risk factors and pathogenesis of RIM. Here we describe the first case of RIM following immunotherapy. The diagnosis is based on clinical appearance and histopathological examination. Treatment should be initiated in the inflammatory stage in order to prevent or delay irreversible fibrosis and atrophy of the breast.
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Metadata
Title
Radiation-induced morphea—a rare but severe late effect of adjuvant breast irradiation
Case report and review of the literature
Authors
Richard Partl
Peter Regitnig
Gerlinde Tauber
Michaela Pötscher
Vesna Bjelic-Radisic
Karin S. Kapp
Publication date
01-11-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Strahlentherapie und Onkologie / Issue 11/2018
Print ISSN: 0179-7158
Electronic ISSN: 1439-099X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-018-1336-9

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