Radiation-associated lesions of the chest wall

The clinical courses of 31 patients having chest wall complications associated with radiotherapy are reviewed. Carcinoma of the breast and its treatment accounted for the majority of individuals with these problems. The treatment regimen associated with the fewest local complications included radical excision of all components of questionable quality, avoidance of synthetic material and bone grafts and immediate restoration with well vascularized musculocutaneous or omental flaps. Presence of recurrent malignant disease within a radionecrotic ulceration carries a significantly poorer prognosis in comparison with an ulcer without such recurrence (p≤0.0001).