A Case of Subungal Abscess And Onycholysis Related to Docetaxel / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Docetaxel is a new taxoid antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced breast cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. Skin and nail change is one of the most frequent nonhematologic adverse reactions. Nail changes include dark pigmentation, subungal hemorrhage, acute paronychia, onycholysis and Beau's line. A 43-year-old woman with metastatic stomach cancer developed painful subungal abscess and secondary onycholysis of all fingernails after three courses of docetaxel chemotherapy(cumulative dose 360mg). Puncturing under the nail plate expressed a purulent serous fluid. Microbiological cultures revealed heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The docetaxel therapy was discontinused and 3rd generation cephalosporin was started. After 3-weeks antibiotic therapy, subungal abscess was improved. To our knowlege, this is the second case report of subungal abscess related to docetaxel chemotherapy.