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Sweet syndrome: a painful reality
Uqba Khan1, Humaira Rizvi1, Farman Ali1
1St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, USA.
BMJ Case Reports
|December 25, 2016
Summary
Sweet syndrome, a neutrophilic dermatosis, can be triggered by capecitabine chemotherapy in rectal cancer patients. This case highlights an unusual association, successfully managed with steroids.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sweet syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by fever, leukocytosis, and tender dermal plaques.
- It has diverse associations, including hematologic malignancies and drug reactions.
- Capecitabine is a commonly used chemotherapy agent for colorectal cancers.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old woman with stage III rectal cancer developed fever, headache, and a painful facial rash.
- Skin biopsy confirmed the characteristic histopathological findings of Sweet syndrome.
- The patient received neoadjuvant capecitabine therapy for her rectal adenocarcinoma.
Findings:
- The patient's clinical presentation and biopsy results were consistent with Sweet syndrome.
- This represents an unusual association between capecitabine treatment and Sweet syndrome in a rectal cancer patient.
- The condition was effectively managed with systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering drug-induced Sweet syndrome in cancer patients presenting with characteristic symptoms.
- Oncologists and dermatologists should be aware of this potential adverse reaction to capecitabine.
- Prompt diagnosis and management with steroids can lead to favorable outcomes.
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