Dermatological adverse reactions to cancer chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT

The new targeted anticancer drugs as well as the older traditional chemotherapy agents are associated with adverse effects on skin, hair, nails and mucosa. These toxic effects can cause great distress to the patient leading to decreased quality of life and interruption in treatment. Aims: To study the mucocutaneous adverse effects of both single and combined chemotherapy regimens in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We studied 53 cancer patients attending the oncology outpatient department or those admitted in the oncology ward of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore between October 2012 and September 2013. The adverse effects of chemotherapy on skin, hair, nails and mucosa were noted. Results: The most common adverse effects observed in the study were nail changes in 33 (62.2%) patients, followed by hair changes in 20 (37.7%) patients, skin changes in 19 (33.9%) patients, and mucosal changes in 2 (3.7%) patients. The skin changes were acneiform rash in 5 (27.7%) patients, xerosis in 4 (22.2%) patients, hyperpigmentation in 4 (22.2%) patients, and toxic epidermal necrolysis, hand foot syndrome, extravasation, erythema nodosum, and supravenous hyperpigmentation in 1 patient each. The most common nail fi nding was melanonychia seen in 26 (78.7%) patients. Hair changes were in the form of anagen effl uvium seen in 20 (37.7%) patients. Mucosal changes seen were pigmentation of tongue and stomatitis in one case each. Limitations: Sample size is small. Conclusions: While these side effects are generally not life-threatening, they can be a source of signifi cant morbidity. Knowledge about the adverse effects of anti-cancer drugs will help in accurate diagnosis and management, thereby improving the quality of life.