The Breast

Morphea of the Breast: Case Reports and Review of Literature

“…The etiology of morphea is not known but the inflammatory process is thought to involve tissue growth factor α secreted by platelets, macrophages and T lymphocytes, which stimulates the fibroblasts and causes fibrosis. The continuous activation of fibroblasts have been possibly due to extracellular matrix gene activation, despite the absence of exogenous stimuli, which could represent an active internal positive feedback mechanism (11,12). Inflammation of the dermis and subcutaneous fat leads to sclerosis in a similar pattern to systemic sclerosis, but there is no associated Raynaud’s phenomenon or internal organ involvement (11).…”

“…The continuous activation of fibroblasts have been possibly due to extracellular matrix gene activation, despite the absence of exogenous stimuli, which could represent an active internal positive feedback mechanism (11,12). Inflammation of the dermis and subcutaneous fat leads to sclerosis in a similar pattern to systemic sclerosis, but there is no associated Raynaud’s phenomenon or internal organ involvement (11). Morphoea is also known to be associated with several conditions such as injuries, cosmetic surgery, radiation therapy and silicon breast implants (2–8,13–15).…”