Post-Irradiation Morphea in Breast Cancer: An Uncommon Differential Diagnosis to Keep in Mind

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of developed countries. Early stage diagnosis is followed, in many cases, of conservative surgery and local radiotherapy. This treatment reduces loco-regional recurrences but may be accompanied by local complications. Morphea of the breast is an uncommon skin condition and has been described after radiotherapy. The inflammatory stage of morphea can commonly be mistaken for a local recurrence or inflammation. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with breast cancer who underwent a conservative surgery with postoperative chemo and radiotherapy. She developed a sclerodermiform plaque with a biopsy that showed histopathological changes consistent with morphea.