Erysipelas of the Upper Extremity Following Surgical Therapy for Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the dermis and hypodermis, mostly of streptococcal origin, and erysipelas of upper extremity following breast cancer treatment has never been reported in the Korean literature. METHODS: 39-year-old female presented to our hospital complaining of fever and painful swelling of her left upper extremity. She had a history of breast cancer and was treated with breast conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation. On physical examination, her left upper extremity showed vesicle, bullae, local heatness and erythema with well-defined margin. With these distinctive features of a skin lesion, we gave a diagnosis of erysipelas and started treatment with intravenous antibiotics. RESULTS: Resolution of the signs and symptoms of erysipelas occurred after 7 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of erysipelas with distinctive feature of skin lesion is essential and we emphasize that the prevention of any trauma are very important in these patients for prophylactic measures.