Septic arthritis of the shoulder after mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast carcinoma.
We report five patients who developed septic arthritis of the shoulder after cancer of the ipsilateral breast had been treated by surgery and radiotherapy. Lymphoedema was present in all cases. The infections were not obvious, having subacute onsets, and delays in diagnosis led to destruction of the joint in all but one patient.
Chaudhuri
K
K
Department of Rheumatology, St. George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
Lonergan
D
D
Portek
I
I
McGuigan
L
L
D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012785:Shoulder Joint