title: Pleurocutaneous fistula as a complication of radiation treatment in locally advanced breast cancer.
abstract: We report the first case of a pleurocutaneous fistula as a consequence of megavoltage radiation therapy for a recurrent locally advanced breast cancer. Several factors, such as previous surgery, blood supply, fraction size, and perhaps increased radiosensitivity, which influence the tolerance of the late reacting normal tissues to radiotherapy, may have predisposed our patient to this rare complication.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kunkler
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002293:Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010994:Pleura / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy