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A case of allergic reaction to surgical metal clips inserted for postoperative boost irradiation in a patient undergoing Breast-conserving therapy

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Abstract

We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with right-sided breast cancer. The patient had been treated for atopic dermatitis since her infancy. She underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in July 1998, and three titanium clips were placed at the margin of the excision cavity at the time of surgery. Two months after surgery, the patient exhibited a rapid exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. Various drugs were suspected to be the cause of the allergic reaction, but the results of a bi-digital O-ring test (BDORT) suggested an allergic reaction to titanium clips. In August 1999, the patient underwent a second operation to remove the titanium clips under local anesthesia. Allergy to surgical titanium clips is a rare complication, but in patients with a history of severe allergic diseases, a preoperative immunologic examination should be performed and the patient’s history of metal allergy should be investigated.

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Abbreviations

BCS:

Breast-conserving surgery

BCT:

Breast-conserving therapy

BDORT:

bi-digital O-ring test

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan

    Ken Tamai, Michihide Mitsumori, Satsuki Fujishiro, Masaki Kokubo, Natsuo Ooya, Yasushi Nagata, Keisuke Sasai & Masahiro Hiraoka

  2. Division of the Science of Nursing College of Medical Technology, Kyoto University, Japan

    Takashi Inamoto

Authors
  1. Ken Tamai
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  2. Michihide Mitsumori
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  3. Satsuki Fujishiro
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  4. Masaki Kokubo
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  5. Natsuo Ooya
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  6. Yasushi Nagata
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  7. Keisuke Sasai
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  8. Masahiro Hiraoka
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  9. Takashi Inamoto
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Tamai, K., Mitsumori, M., Fujishiro, S. et al. A case of allergic reaction to surgical metal clips inserted for postoperative boost irradiation in a patient undergoing Breast-conserving therapy. Breast Cancer 8, 90–92 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967485

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967485

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