[Erysipelas after breast cancer treatment]

Study of the epidemiological, clinical and evolutive characteristics of the erysipelas of patients treated for breast cancer.

Between February 93 and December 99, 20 patients among 700 (2.85%) treated for breast cancer in the radiotherapy department of sfax have presented an erysipelas. All of these patients had undergone a chirurgical treatment containing an axillary lymph node dissection with radiotherapy in 95% and adjuvent chemotherapy in 80% of cases.

The medium delay between the appearance of the eryslpelas and the end of treatment was 23 months. The preferential localisation was the homolateral upper limb to the treated breast (95%). The immediate evolution was favourable in 85% after antibiotherapy. Recurrence of erysipelas was seen in 20% in cases.

Erysipelas after treatment of breast cancer is known but rarely reported. The secondary lymphedema of the upper limb is the major favouring factor.

Appearance of erysipelas among women treated for breast cancer is frequent, his recurrent character must always lead to antibiotic prophylaxis.