Bullous pemphigoid is an unusual condition that occurs rarely as a complication following radiotherapy. Because of the difficulties in the diagnosis of this disease and the need for raising awareness of such as a complication of therapeutic intervention we present a case report and review of the literature with discussion to highlight this disease which can confound the management of breast cancer.
Key wordsRadiation, Bullous pemphigoid, Breast cancer, Necrosis, Skin
Case presentationA 73-year-old fair-skinned Caucasian female presented for a routine screening mammogram in July of 2012 which demonstrated a suspicious 1.0 cm spiculated solid density in the central region of the left breast. The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category was assessed as 4. Immediately following the mammogram, the patient underwent a core needle biopsy under stereotactic guidance which revealed a moderately differentiated estrogen and progesterone positive invasive ductal carcinoma. Her 2 neu was not overexpressed and the Ki 67 ratio was 22%. The patient underwent a left sided needle localized lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. The final pathology demonstrated a 0.8 cm lesion downgraded to low grade differentiation with negative resection margins. In addition, a small component of ductal carcinoma in-situ was identified in the specimen. No comedonecrosis was identified. The final margins of resection were clear with greater than 0.2 cm circumferentially uninvolved. None of the three sentinel lymph nodes was positive for malignancy. A metastatic work up including a comprehensive metabolic panel, a chest x-ray and routine hematologic indices was within normal limits. Her physical exam demonstrated no abnormalities. The patient had a past medical history significant for essential hypertension, fibrocystic breast change, gastro-esophageal reflux, osteoporosis and benign ovarian cysts. She had no appreciable family history of cancer and used hydrochlorothiazide, esomeprazole, and amlodipine. She was allergic to penicillin, sulfa compounds and codeine. She received 4256 cGy at 266 cGy per fraction to the right breast, completing such in October of the same year. During radiotherapy, the patient developed grade I erythema