Radiation-induced morphea

Although the aetiology of morphea often remains unknown,various precipitati ng causes have been identified. Morphea is a rare development following irr adiation. We observed a circumscribed scleroderma 14 years after x-ray-radi otherapy following surgery of breast cancer. Furthermore multiple weeping p apules occured within the radiation area. A relapse of the breast cancer wa s ruled out by histological examination which displayed a transepidermal el imination of acid mucin. The irradiation had obviously induced different re actions of the dermal fibroblasts (radiodermatitis, morphea, mucin producti on).