[Sunburn of a reconstructed breast: risk of denervated tissue].

More and more women opt for breast reconstruction with autologous tissue after breast removal. Reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is the most common technique. In this operation, the nerves of the DIEP flap are cut. This creates a denervated reconstructed breast which is not only numb, but also lacks autonomic response. This makes the tissue more susceptible to thermal injury. We present a case of a 66-year-old woman who underwent uncomplicated breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap 8 months ago. She recently noticed a second-degree burn on her reconstructed breast after she had been sitting in the sun whilst dressed. She did not feel anything and noticed it by accident. Familiarity with this phenomenon is important for all parties involved in care and aftercare of breast cancer and breast reconstruction, so adequate information can be provided. Reinnervation of the reconstructed breast could be a solution, but more research is needed.