Complications

• Malignant pleural effusion: affects 7–11% of all individuals with breast cancer

• Paraneoplastic syndromes

• Recurrence occurs in ∼ 40% of all cases.

• Long thoracic nerve damage

• Secondary lymphedema of the arm

• Secondary malignancies

• Intraoperative complication during radical mastectomy

• Causes winged scapula, which may lead to muscle disorders and shoulder, neck, and upper back pain

• Surgical intervention and/or radiation in the axillary region

• The frequency of lymphedema varies depending on the treatment modality.

  • Lumpectomy alone: 3%

  • Total mastectomy PLUS axillary radiation: ∼ 15%

  • Axillary lymph node dissection PLUS axillary radiation: 21–51%

• Location of the tumor in the upper outer quadrant

• Axillary lymph node dissection

• Radiation after ALND

• Immobility of the limb, swelling, feeling of tightness

• ↑ Risk of infection

• ↓ Wound healing

• Cosmetic disfigurement

• Review of medical and surgical history

• Skin inspection and palpation; assessment of tissue consistency and skin mobility

• Measurement of volume and girth

CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS!!!

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

• Low-level laser therapy

• Microsurgical lymphatic-venous anastomoses

• Complete decongestive therapy

• Manual lymph drainage

• Compression

Angiosarcoma of the breast.

• Rare malignancy that is sometimes referred to as lymphangiosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma, depending on whether it arises from lymphatic or capillary endothelial cells

• Results from chronic lymphedema in patients who have undergone lymphadenectomy and/or radiation therapy

• Manifests with multiple blue/purple, macular, and papular lesions in the area of the breast, chest wall, and/or upper extremity

• Endometrial cancer: risk increased by tamoxifen therapy

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast