Dermatología Pediatrica

Kathryn A. Webber, BA; Liborka Kos, MD; Kristen E. Holland, MD; David
A. Margolis, MD; Beth A. Drolet, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:67-71.

Background  Cutaneous eruptions commonly occur in children receiving
chemotherapy, and the clinical situation often demands immediate
diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Several patterns of cutaneous
eruptions to chemotherapy have been reported; however, the
nomenclature used to describe these entities has been derived from the
histologic findings. The morphologic characteristics, distribution,
and natural history of these reactions have not been well established.

Observations  We report the clinical features of 16 pediatric patients
with a distinctive chemotherapy-induced eruption. The eruption is most
prominent in or limited to intertriginous regions and areas of
occlusion. We were not able to identify any single chemotherapeutic
agent or even a group of agents in the same pharmacologic family that
seemed to be associated with this reaction. The eruption did not
appear to be related to sex, age, ethnicity, underlying malignancy, or
genetic disease.

Conclusions  Recognition of this distinct clinical pattern can help
rule out more serious entities, avoid a biopsy, and reassure the
physician and patient of the benign and self-resolving clinical
course. This entity may be observed with many chemotherapeutic agents
and underlying diseases, but most often with high-dose chemotherapy
protocols.