Pyoderma gangrenosum on the breast: A case presentation and review of the published work

[Pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast – Case report]

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) of the breast is a rare, ulcerative disease of rapid onset normally associated with systemic disorders and triggered by surgery or trauma. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this disease pose a real challenge. We present a case of a PG of the breast in a patient with associated diabetes mellitus, with minor triggering injury. Our patient's condition was diagnosed and treated as an infected breast ulcer; after getting the correct diagnosis we treated her with systemic steroids and finally (at the patient's request) with breast ablation.

Successful treatment of severe refractory post-cesarean pyoderma gangrenosum with intravenous immunoglobulin

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by rapidly progressing necrolytic ulceration of the skin. Proper treatment is crucial since it can result in devastating consequences. First-line treatments include systemic corticosteroids or cyclosporine. However, no standardized treatment regimens for refractory cases exist and treatment outcomes are affected by underlying conditions. PG after cesarean section, which is believed to occur in association with underlying pregnancy- and parturition-related immune changes, is extremely rare, and all reported cases in the literature have been successfully treated with systemic or topical corticosteroids. We report a case of a 32-year-old patient with severe PG occurring on her cesarean scar 3 days after the cesarean delivery. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids and first-line immunomodulatory agents resulted in insufficient response and serious complications. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was then initiated, and a rapid clinical response was seen. Corticosteroid dose was gradually decreased and ceased. IVIG infusion was continued for 3 months until complete recovery. Reactivation was not observed in a 1-year follow-up period. Due to its cost, IVIG infusion is less suitable as a first-line agent. However, IVIG may be an important therapeutic option in resistant postpartum PG, in which first-line agents have failed or led to complications.

"Pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast: A challenging diagnosis"

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) of the breast is a rare, ulcerative disease of rapid onset normally associated with systemic disorders and triggered by surgery or trauma. Pyoderma gangrenosum poses a diagnostic challenge. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to minimize morbidity and sequelae. We performed a retrospective review of all breast PG cases admitted to Cruces University Hospital over a 5-year (2015-2019) period. Medical history, clinical course, and management strategies were assessed. Three patients were analyzed. None of them had previous surgery. No definitive etiology was identified in one case, and the other two were probably biopsy-driven. Histological findings were reported as nonspecific. Similar skin lesions elsewhere on the body and resistance to wide-spectrum antibiotic therapy were observed. These features raised awareness on the diagnosis of PG. Ulcerations healed completely within 2 months following treatment with Cyclosporine A or corticosteroid therapy. A complicated late-diagnosis case that presented with advanced breast and forearm necrosis was managed with steroids followed by trans-forearm amputation and mastectomy. The breast is an unusual site for PG, but this differential diagnosis should be considered in the presence of breast ulceration. In patients with a strong clinical and histological PG suspicion, we suggest early management with systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy prior to any surgical debridement to minimize morbidity and poor esthetic outcomes.

Pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast 17 years after breast cancer treatment

We present a case of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) affecting the breast of a 74-year-old woman, with a history of breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy 17 years prior. She presented to the hospital with worsening breast ulceration, after a punch biopsy was performed at the site. She had surrounding cellulitis and concurrent infection to that breast which required antibiotics. The ulceration persisted even after treatment, and incisional biopsies of the area of ulceration confirmed the diagnosis of PG. Her condition was managed effectively with the use of immunosuppressive therapy, and she continued to display a good clinical response 2 months post discharge from the hospital.

Pyoderma gangrenosum with pathergy: A potentially significant complication following breast reconstruction

The failure of postoperative surgical site infection to resolve after appropriate antibiotic therapy should alert the clinician to other diagnoses. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an inflammatory neutrophilic dermatosis that is typically characterized by necrotizing ulceration. PG can be exacerbated by minor trauma leading to exaggerated skin injury, a condition known as pathergy. We present a case series of PG arising after immediate reconstruction for breast oncological surgery from 1st January 2006 to 1st September 2014. 395 immediate breast reconstructions were performed in 335 patients. Three cases of post-surgical PG were identified (0.9%), all in the setting of mastectomy for breast cancer. Two cases underwent immediate reconstruction with pedicled transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flaps, and one underwent submuscular expander insertion. A mean delay of 6.3 days was observed from first presentation of symptoms to diagnosis of PG. Immunosuppressants commonly used included methylprednisolone, prednisone, and ciclosporin, with good success at halting disease progress. Significant scarring affected all three women. Once the disease was deemed quiescent, intravenous immunoglobulin used in the perioperative period for further surgical procedures provided favorable results. A diagnostic algorithm is suggested to guide surgeons in investigations and management when post-surgical PG is suspected.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum of the breast: A case report study

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Pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast as a de novo presentation is rare and mostly associated with underlying autoimmune or hematologic disorders.

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It is also associated with breast cosmetic surgery or previous cesarian section.

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In this study, we report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast in a patient with no prior medical history and no surgeries.

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Treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast consists of systematic corticosterod use, while surgical debridement has a beneficiary effect.

Introduction

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) of the breast is a rare and rapidly spreading disease, which usually co-exists with severe underlying systemic conditions. PG often presents secondary to breast surgery with skin lesions and signs of infection, even though it is a non-infectious, necrotizing dermatological entity.

Presentation of case

We present a case of de novo unilateral breast PG in 37-year-old woman, with a clear medical history whatsoever. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and, in a two-month follow up, presents with nearly no signs of PG.

Discussion

PG of the breast presents with atypical clinical signs and is characterized by an exclusion-based diagnosis. It often mimics inflammation but is resistant to antibiotics.

Conclusion

The optimal treatment for PG is systemic use of corticosteroids and surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue, while the timely onset of the therapeutic approach is of outmost importance.

Post Reconstruction Breast Pyoderma Gangrenosum: Early Recognition and Prosthesis Salvage

We report 3 cases of breast pyoderma gangrenosum in patients undergoing total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. All three received systemic corticosteroid treatment, resulting in resolution of symptoms. As experience grew, early diagnosis in the third patient helped prosthesis salvage and timely return to the original course of reconstruction. This represents the first report of prosthesis salvage from post breast reconstruction pyoderma gangrenosum, and it demonstrates that implant removal is not always necessary during management of this rare condition.

Pyoderma gangrenosum following breast reduction: treatment with topical tacrolimus and steroids

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, noninfectious, inflammatory dermatosis usually associated with autoimmune disorders. Wounds may mimic a necrotizing infection, and the diagnosis is usually made after antibiotic therapy fails. Debridement may cause even larger wounds because of pathergy, so PG treatment consists of corticosteroids and local wound care. Pyoderma gangrenosum can be a devastating complication of breast and aesthetic surgery. We describe a case of PG following unilateral breast reduction that resulted in systemic inflammatory response; after treatment with prednisone and topical tacrolimus, the PG was resolved. The application of topical tacrolimus may reduce the need for prolonged corticosteroids.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.

Pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

BACKGROUND

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis which leads to necrotic and painful skin ulceration. PG of the breast is extremely rare with 32 documented cases in the current literature. Delay in diagnosis worsens scarring as the ulcers are rapidly expanding, painful and usually slow to heal.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of pyoderma gangrenosum of the breast in a patient with associated rheumatoid arthritis which was initially diagnosed as an infected breast ulcer and later successfully treated with systemic steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

CONCLUSION

Even though PG of the breast has been gaining increased recognition over the past two decades, this has been more common in the post-surgical setting. This case highlights the need to consider PG as a differential diagnosis when faced with unsual cases of breast ulceration and the importance of multidisplinary approach for effective treatment of this condition.

A case of pyoderma gangrenosum with ulcerative colitis treated with combined approach: infliximab and surgery

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an ulcerating noninfectious disease of the skin seen in 1-2% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The pathogenesis of PG has yet to be determined, but may be related to abnormal T cell responses and the production of TNF-α, a pathway also involved in IBD pathogenesis. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, is used to treat moderate to severe IBD and several case reports and studies suggest the efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of PG. The surgical approach to PG is reserved to a few selected cases. We report here the case of a patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) and PG localized on the left breast, treated with a simultaneous combined medical and surgical approach.

Postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum complicating reduction mammaplasty

Reduction mammaplasty is one of the most common surgeries performed by plastic surgeons. It relieves back and neck pain and improves the aesthetic contour of the ptotic breast. Postsurgical pyoderma gangrenosum (PSPG) is an unusual inflammatory disorder leading to rapidly progressive skin necrosis that can occur after any surgical procedure. The skin lesions have the characteristic appearance of ulcers with a purple-colored border and erythematous halo. Clinically, the patient has a low fever and severe local pain. In the majority of cases this disease is misdiagnosed as severe infection leading to improper debridement, exacerbating the problem. The mainstay of therapy for PSPG is still nonoperative and focuses on immunosuppressive medications and local wound care, which allows healing in the majority of the cases. It is important for plastic surgeons and infectologists to be cognizant of this entity, as a delay in diagnosis and management can be life-threatening and lead to considerable tissue loss and disfigurement of the breast. The authors report a case of reduction mammaplasty complicated with PSPG and its treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

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[Pyoderma gangrenosum following AICD implantation: differential diagnosis to necrotizing fasciitis]

Pyoderma gangrenosum is rarely seen in the surgical disciplines. In the described case the patient was initially diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and admitted to the intensive care unit suffering from septic shock. The automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD), the suspected focus for infection, had already been removed. Following weeks of broad spectrum antibiotics and wound debridement without clinical improvement the alternative diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was reached. Consequently the patient was treated with immunosuppressive therapy and his condition improved rapidly such that he was ultimately discharged to rehabilitation.