Delayed and localized pemphigus vulgaris after breast cancer radiotherapy

Abstract Breast cancer treatment involving ionizing radiation causes characteristic radiation dermatitis in the majority of patients. The DNA damaging effects of radiation can rarely predispose to primary inflammatory dermatoses, such as pemphigus vulgaris. In such cases, the disease presents with all the hallmarks of the primary dermatosis, but the eruption is limited to the field of irradiation and is often amenable to treatment. In contrast, occurrence of generalized pemphigus vulgaris in this setting may mean cancer recurrence. The mechanism by which radiotherapy induces localized disease remains unknown, but there is likely a loss of self‐tolerance which maybe coupled to antigen exposure.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Ftbj.12910

Source: The Breast Journal - September 11, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Hiu Kwan Carolyn Tang, Doreen Yin Hui Lee, Ian Thompson, John R. Ingram, Natalie Stone, Girish K. Patel Tags: CASE REPORT Source Type: research