[Delayed appearance of maculopapular eruptions induced by tamoxifen].
BACKGROUND
Prescriptions of tamoxifen can be expected to increase over the next few years, particularly for primary prevention of breast cancer. We report a case of a delayed tamoxifen-induced skin reaction.


METHODS
A 50-year-old woman was hospitalized for a diffuse maculopapulous eruption which developed four months after beginning a tamoxifen regimen instituted to prevent recurrence of breast cancer after surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The eruption resolved rapidly after withdrawal of tamoxifen. The same skin reaction occurred 9 hours after rechallenge with tamoxifen. Patch tests performed later with Nolvadex tablets crushed in vaseline were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen-induced skin reactions are uncommon. The likelihood that tamoxifen was the cause in this case was very high (C3S3 = I4, B2). The late onset (4 months) in this case is remarkable and misled us to look for another cause which could not be found. Challenge with tamoxifen confirmed its causal role. Once again, negative patch tests were found in this type of skin reaction.
Descamps
V
V
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Bichat, Paris.
Bouscarat
F
F
Boui
M
M
Marck
Y
Y
Lebrun-Vignes
B
B
Crickx
B
B
Belaich
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015413:Mastectomy, Simple; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010328:Patch Tests; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen