Erysipele apres traitement du cancer du sein

ABSTRACT

study of the epidemiological, clinical and evolutive characteristics of the erysipelas of patients treated for breast cancer. Between February 93 and December 9920 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 adjuvant chemotherapy in 80% of cases. the medium delay between the appearance of the erysipelas and the end of treatment was 23 months. The preferential localization 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 brest cancer is frequent, his recurrent character must always lead to antibiotic prophylaxis