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Case Reports
. 2021 Mar 1;14(1):160-164.
doi: 10.1159/000509745. eCollection 2021 Jan-Apr.

Postsurgical Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

Grazia Maria Vernaci  1   2 , Muzio Meroni  3 , Maria Vittoria Dieci  1   2 , Tania Saibene  4 , Maria Cristina Montesco  5 , Enrico Orvieto  6 , Annamaria Cattelan  7 , Cristina Ghiotto  2 , Federica Miglietta  1   2 , Valentina Guarneri  1   2 , Matteo Cagol  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Postsurgical Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

Grazia Maria Vernaci et al. Case Rep Oncol. .

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare skin necrotizing disease that can arise on a site of surgical trauma. Its pathogenesis has recently been related to dysregulation of the immune system, with inflammatory bowel disease representing the most commonly underlying systemic conditions. Several authors have also reported an association with solid malignancies (especially gastrointestinal and breast cancer). We describe the case of a 39-year-old patient diagnosed with a locally advanced, triple-negative breast cancer who developed a pyoderma gangrenosum on the surgical wound after a CVC implant with systemic complications. As the diagnosis and management of postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum can be challenging for clinicians, underlying conditions as autoimmune disease and solid tumors have to be considered in order to guide treatment.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Pathergy; Pyoderma gangrenosum; Solid tumors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Skin lesion course. a At the beginning. b After necrosectomy. c After skin graft.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. No infiltration was observed on the pre-treatment sample (a), while a moderate infiltrate was present in the surgical sample (b).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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