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Subungal abcesses secondary to paclitaxel
M Pilar Albares1, Isabel Belinchón, Jose Carlos Pascual
1Department of Dermatology, Hospital General de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. pityalte@hotmail.com
Dermatology Online Journal
|September 4, 2003
Summary
Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, can cause nail problems like acute paronychia in breast cancer patients. This case highlights a rare side effect of this common cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Taxane chemotherapy agents are widely used for cancer treatment.
- Cutaneous side effects, including nail changes, are known adverse events associated with taxanes.
- Docetaxel is the most commonly implicated taxane in causing nail abnormalities.
Observation:
- A case of acute paronychia was observed in a patient undergoing chemotherapy.
- The patient was receiving paclitaxel for the treatment of breast cancer.
- This adverse event manifested as inflammation and infection around the fingernails.
Findings:
- Acute paronychia is a potential, albeit uncommon, cutaneous side effect of paclitaxel chemotherapy.
- The patient's condition developed during the course of breast cancer treatment.
- This finding expands the known spectrum of taxane-induced nail toxicities.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acute paronychia with paclitaxel use.
- Early recognition and management of nail changes can improve patient quality of life during chemotherapy.
- Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying paclitaxel-induced paronychia.