Skin Rashes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Rashes, including details on dermatitis, itches, creams, medication, treatment.

Radiation recall dermatitis with pemetrexed.

Hureaux J, Le Guen Y, Tuchais C, Savary L, Urban T

Département de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire, 4, rue Larrey, 49 933 Angers Cedex 9, France.

Pemetrexed has recently been approved for use in combination with cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Radiation therapy is frequently administered to the thoracic orifices and no data are available about the interactions between radiotherapy and pemetrexed. We report the first case of radiation recall dermatitis occurring after pemetrexed chemotherapy in a patient with MPM previously treated with radiation therapy to the thoracoscopy and drainage orificies. The patient received chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin 19 days after completion of chest wall radiation therapy delivering 21 gray in 3 days. Conventional premedication by folic acid and intramuscular administration of Vitamin B(12) and prednisolone was correctly performed. Twelve days later, confluent erythematous and pruritus rash of the irradiated skin was observed. The toxicity grade of this lesion was evaluated at 2 according to the Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria proposed by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Pemetrexed challenge was performed without worsening of skin lesions. Three weeks later, skin cicatrisation was observed after a desquamative phase. Persistant hyperpigmentation was seen in the irradiated skin. Pemetrexed could also act as a radiosensitizing agent that should be used with care for several weeks after radiotherapy.

Published 12 October 2005 in Lung Cancer, 50(2): 255-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Skin Rashes Research Today. All Rights Reserved.