Radiation-induced breast changes
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Radiation-induced breast changes are a consequence of radiotherapy toxicity over the breast tissues either related to targeted breast cancer treatment or other thoracic malignancies (eg. lung cancer).
Radiographic features
The radiation-induced breast changes may be seen in either dedicated breast imaging or CT chest performed for follow-up of other thoracic malignancies.
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skin thickening
- commonly seen within 6 months of the completion date
- slowly resolve until a certain point where a fibrotic thickening may persist
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interstitial oedema
- diffuse trabecular thickening representing engorged lymphatics
- oil cysts/fat necrosis
- dystrophic calcifications
- focal skin retraction
- glandular atrophy
- asymmetry of the glandular parenchyma noted when compared to contralateral breast
- decreased breast size
- breast fibrosis
- radiation-induced breast cancer
Treatment and complications
Radiation-induced breast malignancy is rare 1-3 and possible induced tumours include:
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis is mainly considered in those patients treating breast cancer, as it may be difficult to distinguish the above-mentioned breast changes from:
- local breast recurrence
- inflammatory breast cancer
- breast infection
- +<li><a title="Radiation-induced breast cancer" href="/articles/radiation-induced-breast-cancer">radiation-induced breast cancer</a></li>
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