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Radiation recall dermatitis and pneumonitis in a patient treated with paclitaxel
Author(s) -
Schweitzer Victor G.,
Juillard Guy J. F.,
Bajada Cynthia L.,
Parker Robert G.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19950915)76:6<1069::aid-cncr2820760623>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - medicine , paclitaxel , pneumonitis , recall , radiation therapy , lung cancer , mediastinum , lung , dermatology , cancer , surgery , oncology , linguistics , philosophy
Background . Radiation recall refers to a tissue reaction produced by a chemotherapeutic agent in a previously irradiated field that would not occur in a nonirradiated field. A number of agents have been reported to cause radiation recall. Recently, there have been case reports of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel treatment. Methods . A patient with metastatic lung cancer received palliative radiation to her mediastinum and ribs. Because of disease progression, she subsequently received paclitaxel. Results . After paclitaxel administration, the patient became acutely dyspneic. A subsequent chest X‐ray revealed a parenchymal opacity in a region that corresponded with the patient's radiation portal. She also developed a severe skin reaction in the previously treated electron field. Conclusions . This is one of few reported cases of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel and is also suggestive of recall pneumonitis, a phenomenon previously unreported to the authors' knowledge. Given paclitaxel's ability to function as a radiosensitizer, this response is not unexpected. As the frequency of paclitaxel administration increases, its potential as a radiation sensitizer and radiation recall should be considered. Cancer 1995;76: 1069–72.