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. 2014 Dec;32(4):262-5.
doi: 10.3857/roj.2014.32.4.262. Epub 2014 Dec 30.

Radiation recall dermatitis induced by tamoxifen during adjuvant breast cancer treatment

Jiyoung Rhee  1 , Gwi Eon Kim  2 , Chang Hyun Lee  3 , Jung-Mi Kwon  1 , Sang-Hoon Han  1 , Young Suk Kim  2 , Woo-Kun Kim  1
Affiliations

Radiation recall dermatitis induced by tamoxifen during adjuvant breast cancer treatment

Jiyoung Rhee et al. Radiat Oncol J. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Tamoxifen and radiotherapy are used in breast cancer treatment worldwide. Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD), induced by tamoxifen, has been rarely reported. Herein, we report a RRD case induced by tamoxifen. A 47-year-old woman had a right quadrantectomy and an axillary lymph node dissection due to breast cancer. The tumor was staged pT2N0; it was hormone receptor positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy followed by tamoxifen and radiotherapy. After 22 months of tamoxifen, the patient developed a localized heating sensation, tenderness, edema, and redness at the irradiated area of the right breast. The symptoms improved within 1 week without treatment. Three weeks later, however, the patient developed similar symptoms in the same area of the breast. She continued tamoxifen before and during dermatitis, and symptoms resolved within 1 week.

Keywords: Radiation recall dermatitis; Tamoxifen; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A well-demarcated skin lesion in a previous irradiated area. The first (A) and second (B) events are shown.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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