Localized atypical pemphigoid on lymphoedema following radiotherapy

Autoimmune bullous diseases have been reported associated with different causal factors: drugs, mechanical trauma and physical trauma, particularly ultraviolet light and radiotherapy. In these cases different hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of blister formation can be supported. In this observation, we report a localized cicatricial pemphigoid with unusual clinical presentation. Moreover, it appeared 9 years after radiotherapy for breast carcinoma and it was preferentially localized on an upper limb lymphoedema. Because of the long time between the treatment of carcinoma with radiotherapy and the onset of pemphigoid, we assume that lymphoedema played a major etiological role in this particular cicatricial pemphigoid.