Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) following a mastectomy, combined with radiotherapy, presents a multifaceted approach to breast cancer treatment, balancing oncological safety and aesthetic outcomes. IBR, typically involving the use of implants or autologous tissue, aims to restore breast morphology directly after a mastectomy, minimizing the psychological and physical impacts. However, integrating radiotherapy with IBR is complex due to the potential adverse effects on reconstructed tissues. Radiotherapy, essential for reducing local recurrence, can induce fibrosis, capsular contracture, and compromised aesthetic results. This narrative review covers the current trends in the sequencing of breast reconstruction and radiotherapy. We discuss patient selection, timing of radiotherapy, and reconstructive techniques, with special attention paid to quality-of-life outcomes that are increasingly reported in clinical trials. Emerging evidence supports the feasibility of IBR with careful patient selection and tailored therapeutic approaches, although ongoing research is necessary to refine protocols and enhance outcomes. Overall, IBR in the context of radiotherapy remains a promising but intricate treatment modality, requiring a nuanced balance between cancer control and aesthetic restoration.

Glucocorticoid excess is an under-recognised cause of cardiovascular adverse effects. The sources can be either endogenous (Cushing’s syndrome) or exogenous (Anabolic steroid abuse). Cardiovascular complications due to excess glucocorticoid includes hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Although anabolic steroid-induced cardiomyopathy is a well-recognised phenomenon, endogenous corticosteroid-induced cardiomyopathy and heart failure are rarely reported sequelae of glucocorticoid excess in the body. We report a glucocorticoid-induced dilated cardiomyopathy in a 26-year-old African–American man with cushingoid features and symptomatic heart failure.

Fungal endocarditis, specifically from Candida species, is a rare but serious infection with a high mortality rate. Most cases occur in bioprosthetic or mechanical valves and are uncommon in native, structurally normal valves. When Candida endocarditis is detected and appropriate treatment is initiated earlier, there is an improvement in mortality. While the recommendation is usually to treat with a combination of surgery and antifungal medications, patient comorbidities may limit treatment options.

Brodie’s abscess is a rare form of subacute osteomyelitis, most commonly found in children between the ages of two to fifteen years. It has slight preponderance for males. It is characterised by centrally placed, well-circumscribed abscess within the medulla or metaphysis of long bone, most commonly tibia, surrounded by a sclerotic wall. It is sometimes considered a transitional phase for the development of chronic osteomyelitis due to infection persisting between two to six months without showing any systemic symptoms specific to osteomyelitis. It is assumed that it is clinically quiescent due to its intraosseous location. It rarely presents with overt symptoms, which occurs if either the abscess enlarges to create pressure against the periosteum, or if the purulent material extrudes from the confines from its sclerotic walls. Due to subliminal clinical features and indolent clinical course, radiologic investigations are the diagnostic modality of choice. Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion, especially in the scenario of sepsis with an unknown source of infection. We describe a case of Brodie's abscess in a sickle-cell disease patient which presented as episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis repeatedly before it was diagnosed along with a review of the literature.