The risks of treating keloids with radiotherapy.
The risk of carcinogenesis from radiation exposure is well known. It has been questioned for some time therefore, whether it is wise to treat benign disease with radiotherapy. We report a case of a patient who developed bilateral breast carcinomas almost 30 years after treatment of chest wall keloids with radiotherapy. There are only anecdotal reports in the literature of malignancies following treatment of keloids with radiotherapy. We review these reports and discuss the safety of this approach to the management of keloid scars.
Botwood
N
N
Department of Radiology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
Lewanski
C
C
Lowdell
C
C
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*