Gemcitabine-related "pseudocellulitis": report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Abstract

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent whose cutaneous toxicities are easily mistaken for infections. We describe 2 patients, 1 with gemcitabine-induced radiation recall dermatitis and 1 with gemcitabine-related erysipeloid reaction, who received misdiagnoses of infectious cellulitis and were given empirical antibiotics. Recognition of these syndromes is important to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

• Authors: Darrell H S Tan, Paul E Bunce, W Conrad Liles, Wayne L Gold
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 45 Issue 5 Pg. e72-6 (Sep 01 2007) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17682983 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Deoxycytidine
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (adverse effects)
• Cellulitis (chemically induced, diagnosis, microbiology)
• Deoxycytidine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Diagnostic Errors
• Erythema (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radiodermatitis (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
• Gemcitabine