Brachial plexopathy and porencephaly in a patient with breast cancer

RADIOTHERAPY is frequently used in the management of breast cancer for locoregional control. The 10-year failure rate is 12%, which includes brachial plexus infiltration with tumor. The brachial plexus may also get entrapped with radiation-induced fibrosis. Both situations can result in neurologic manifestations that may be clinically indistinguishable. Because an open biopsy to establish a definitive diagnosis is associated with a risk of increased morbidity, clinical observation may be recommended in an effort to avoid surgical exploration. We describe a 58-year-old breast cancer patient with brachial plexopathy and porencephaly who was referred to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center after excision of a chest-wall recurrence.