Capecitabine-Induced Genital Hand-Foot Syndrome Treated With Topical Tacrolimus

We describe a rare case of capecitabine-induced palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), or hand-foot syndrome (HFS), involving the genitals, which resolved with tacrolimus therapy, in a patient with cT3dN3 stage IIIc moderately differentiated proximal rectal adenocarcinoma who was undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Given its severe impact on the quality of life, HFS often requires independent local anti-inflammatory treatment and subsequent dose delay and/or modification of the patient's chemotherapy. We believe that our findings in this report can aid clinicians in the early recognition and management of capecitabine-associated HFS resulting in balanitis, as prompt treatment may reduce morbidity and avoid prolonged interruption of chemotherapy in these patients.