title: Morphea as a consequence of accelerated partial breast irradiation.
abstract: Morphea is a localized form of scleroderma usually unaccompanied by the typical systemic stigmata that characterize progressive systemic scleroderma. It rarely manifests at the site of whole breast external-beam radiation therapy. We present an unusual case of radiation-induced morphea (RIM) that occurred after accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using intracavitary Contura brachytherapy. A 65-year-old white woman was treated for stage IIA invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast with APBI to a dose of 34 Gy in 3.4-Gy fractions twice daily over the course 5 days with intracavitary brachytherapy. At 1.5 years after completion of APBI, the patient developed an area of tenderness, erythema, and induration at the site of irradiation. A skin biopsy was consistent with morphea. To our knowledge, this is the first case of RIM confined to the area of APBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA. gaw9008@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: A Gabriella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wernicke
authors.forename: Yevgeniya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goltser
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trichter
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabbas
authors.forename: Jalong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaan
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Swistel
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Magro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome