Case series of docetaxel-induced dorsal hand-foot syndrome

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, also known as hand-foot syndrome (HFS), is a well-known dermatologic adverse event that can occur with a variety of cytotoxic chemotherapies including fluoropyrimidines, cytarabine, liposomal doxorubicin, and taxanes. HFS often presents as painful erythemas and desquamation of the skin involving the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Three cases are presented of patients with breast cancer who received multiagent chemotherapy regimens containing docetaxel that developed an atypical presentation of HFS on the dorsal aspect of the hands and feet. All patients received supportive care to manage the symptoms of their dermatologic toxicity. Dorsal HFS improved with supportive care or dose reduction and resolved following completion of the docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Based on the temporal relationship of the event and previous reports, we found that docetaxel was the probable offending agent.