Drug extravasation along the route of a peritoneal catheter during intraperitoneal chemotherapy

A patient receiving intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin and cytosine arabinoside developed an abdominal skin rash similar in appearance to Cullen's sign. She subsequently received intraperitoneal mitoxantrone, which became visible in the skin close to the peritoneal catheter tract in the region of the skin rash within 24 hours of drug administration. There was no evidence for drug extravasation from the entry portal of the peritoneal catheter or visible fluid leakage. Although the clinical picture was dramatic there was no significant clinical sequela to the extravasation of these drugs. The potential significance of this event is discussed.