Ann Dermatol.  2001 Dec;13(4):232-234. 10.5021/ad.2001.13.4.232.

Atypical Eruption Due to Chemotherapeutic Agent

• Hur J
• Seong JY
• Choi TS
• Suh KS
• Kim ST

• KMID: 2362368
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2001.13.4.232

Abstract

We report a case of atypical eruption due to chemotherapeutic agent in a 60-year-old man who presented with asymptomatic, erythematous, 0.5cm in diameter, confluent, and elevated papules and plaques confined to the face. The patient was previously diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lung with liver metastasis. Two months after the diagnosis, a first course of chemotherapy including etoposide was started. Five days after starting the chemotherapy, the patient developed a facial eruption. Histopathologic examination demonstrated increased epidermal mitotic figures, cells in metaphase arrest, basal cell layer hyperpigmentation, prominent dyskeratosis, and squamous atypia. The most distinctive histologic feature was the presence of starburst cells, which are markedly enlarged pale staining keratinocytes containing small basophilic fragments of nuclear debris haphazardly scattered throughout the cytoplasm in a starburst pattern.

Keyword

Atypical eruption; Chemotherapeutic agent; Starburst cell

MeSH Terms

Basophils
Carcinoma, Small Cell
Cytoplasm
Diagnosis
Drug Therapy
Etoposide
Humans
Hyperpigmentation
Keratinocytes
Liver
Lung
Metaphase
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Etoposide