Nummular eczema of the breast following surgery and reconstruction in breast cancer patients

摘要

Nummular eczema (NE) is a dermatologic condition that may develop postoperatively on the skin of the reconstructed breast in breast cancer patients [1]. However, literature documenting this entity is rare. In one retrospective analysis, Iwahira et al. reviewed 1662 Japanese women who underwent breast reconstruction and found that nearly 3% developed NE [1]. Lesion onset varied: 45.8% after tissue expander (TE) placement, 25.0% after silicone implant replacement, and 29.2% after nipple-areola complex reconstruction. Lesion location also varied, with 41.7% and 66.7% presenting with peri-wound and non-peri-wound lesions, respectively. In a more recent study, Rosen et al. identified 21 patients of unspecified ethnicity who developed a rash on the skin overlying the reconstructed breast, diagnosed as 'post-reconstruction dermatitis of the breast'; none of these cases were biopsied and most resolved with topical antibiotics and topical corticosteroids [2]. Because breast cancer is a prevalent disease and breast reconstruction is a frequent management strategy, we present the clinical and histopathologic features of three cases of NE of the reconstructed breast in non-Asian women.