Imaging surveillance of the breast in a patient diagnosed with scleroderma after breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy

Abstract

Collagen vascular disease (CVD), particularly scleroderma, is a contraindication to radiation therapy because of increased risk of fibrosis. We report a patient with early stage breast cancer diagnosed with scleroderma after breast-conserving surgery and radiation. She developed marked breast fibrosis, rendering mammographic, sonographic, and clinical surveillance ineffective. She has subsequently been followed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast. We illustrate this case and review the literature relating to CVD and radiation therapy. MRI may be a suitable surveillance method in this situation.