ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Systemic chemotherapy and targeted agents are associated with various cutaneous toxicities. Even though cutaneous toxicities are manageable, it often results in treatment discontinuation and worsens the patients' quality of life. AIM: The study aimed to determine the spectrum of cutaneous toxicities in patients receiving systemic chemotherapy and targeted agents for breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 250 out of 720 patients with breast cancer who developed various cutaneous toxicities to chemotherapeutic or targeted agents were included in the study. RESULTS: Among 250 patients, 57 patients were on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 89 patients were on adjuvant chemotherapy, 68 were on palliative chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer and 36 were on targeted treatment for metastatic breast cancer. The most frequently affected site was hair (96%), followed by skin (92%), nail (34%), and mucosa (26%). The most common dermatological toxicity noticed in our study involved the hair in the form of chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium) in 93.6%, followed by skin toxicity with generalized xerosis in 92% and, nail toxicity in 34%, and mucosal toxicity in 26%. The most common chemotherapeutic agent which caused frequent cutaneous toxicities in our patients was docetaxel followed by paclitaxel, capecitabine, doxorubicin, epirubicine, cyclophosphamide, 5-flurouracil and targeted agents like lapatinib, everolimus, and tamoxifen. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous toxicities are common following systemic chemotherapy and targeted agents. Early recognition of cutaneous side effects of these agents and prompt early interventions can reduce the significant morbidity, cosmetic disfigurement, unnecessary treatment interruptions, and psychological distress in women treated for breast cancers.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Skin Diseases/chemically induced , Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Incidence , India , Middle Aged , Skin Diseases/therapyABSTRACT
Renal cell carcinoma is the third most common malignancy to metastasize to the head and neck region. Among them, parotid is a well-reported site, although limited to case reports. Tumours with predominance of clear cells found in the head and neck, namely oncocytoma, clear cell carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma should be distinguished from clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This case report is regarding a patient with renal cell carcinoma presenting as bulky parotid metastasis. This literature review is to reiterate the possibility of renal cell carcinoma with parotid metastasis, as to aid in good science and better practice.
