Browse > Article

Erysipelas of the Upper Extremity Following Surgical Therapy for Breast Cancer  

Kwon, Ho (Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine)
Kim, Hyung Jun (Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine)
Jung, Sung No (Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine)
Yim, Young Min (Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Archives of Plastic Surgery / v.34, no.1, 2007 , pp. 134-136 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the dermis and hypodermis, mostly of streptococcal origin, and erysipelas of upper extremity following breast cancer treatment has never been reported in the Korean literature. Methods: 39-year-old female presented to our hospital complaining of fever and painful swelling of her left upper extremity. She had a history of breast cancer and was treated with breast conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation. On physical examination, her left upper extremity showed vesicle, bullae, local heatness and erythema with well-defined margin. With these distinctive features of a skin lesion, we gave a diagnosis of erysipelas and started treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Results: Resolution of the signs and symptoms of erysipelas occurred after 7 days of treatment. Conclusion: The diagnosis of erysipelas with distinctive feature of skin lesion is essential and we emphasize that the prevention of any trauma are very important in these patients for prophylactic measures.
Keywords
Erysipelas; Lymph edema;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Bonnetblanc JM, Bedane C: Erysipelas: recognition and management. Am J Clin Dennatol 4: 157, 2003   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Krasagakis K, Samonis G, Maniatakis P, Georgala S, Tosca A: Bullous erysipelas: clinical presentation, staphylococcal involvement and methicillin resistance. Dermatology 212: 31, 2006   DOI   ScienceOn
3 El Saghir NS, Otrock ZK, Bizri Abdul RN, Uwaydah MM, Oghlakian GO: Erysipelas of the upper extremity following locoregional therapy for breast cancer. Breast 14: 347, 2005   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Stevens DL: Infections of the skin, muscle, and soft tissues. In Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Braunwald E, Hauser SL, Jameson JL(eds): Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 16th ed, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2005, p 742
5 James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM: Bacterial infections. In Andrews' diseases of the skin clinical dennatology, 10th ed, Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2006, p 260
6 Herd-Smith A, Russo A, Muraca MG, Del Turco MR, Cardona G: Prognostic factors for lymphedema after primary treatment of breast carcinoma. Cancer 92: 1783, 2001