Localized Sweet's Syndrome in an Irradiated Field

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Sweet's syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis.
• It presents with fever, leukocytosis, and painful skin plaques.
• Histopathology shows a dense dermal infiltrate of neutrophils without vasculitis.

Observation:

• A 56-year-old female with a history of cervical cancer developed skin lesions.
• The lesions appeared approximately 3 years post-treatment (surgery and chemoradiation).
• Lesions were located primarily within the previous radiation field.

Findings:

• Skin biopsy confirmed features consistent with Sweet's syndrome.
• This suggests a potential delayed reaction or association with prior radiation therapy.
• The presentation is unusual due to the latency and localization.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of Sweet's syndrome triggers.
• It highlights the importance of considering reactive dermatoses in cancer survivors.
• Further research may explore radiation as a potential late-onset trigger for Sweet's syndrome.