BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic factors of
dermatosis associated with malignant
breast tumors. CASE REPORTS: The clinical data of 4
breast cancer patients, 3 with
dermatomyositis and 1 with
acquired ichthyosis, were analyzed retrospectively. The 4 patients were >50 years of age, and the malignant
breast tumors appeared within 5 years of the diagnosis of
dermatosis. Two of the 3
breast cancer patients with
dermatomyositis received a
modified radical mastectomy, and because they could not afford systemic
chemotherapy after surgery, only received endocrine
therapy. The third patient received a
simple mastectomy and axillary
lymph node dissection but died of
respiratory failure 2 months after the operation. The patient with
acquired ichthyosis and malignant
breast tumor received
modified radical mastectomy,
chemotherapy,
radiotherapy, and endocrine
therapy; no complications were observed in the postoperative period. During the 9-15 months of follow-up after the surgery, the 3 patients remained in good condition with improvement of the
dermatosis symptoms and no
cancer relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant
breast tumor screening is indicated in women with
dermatomyositis or
acquired ichthyosis, especially in those aged >50 years.