[Cutaneous paresthesia in high-dose intravenous dexamethasone therapy in oncology]

Seventeen oncological patients reported unpleasant but clinically harmless skin sensations directly after intravenous injection of dexamethasone, persisting for 2-4 minutes. In 16 cases, these paraesthesias (tingling, burning, itching, twinging) occurred in the genital or perineal area. In one case, the symptoms started in this area and then extended over the entire truncus integument for a short period. The cause of this obviously drug-induced side effect is unknown.