title: Chemotherapy-induced scleroderma: a pleiomorphic syndrome.
abstract: A scleroderma-like disease has recently been described in association with taxanes. We present the first case of diffuse scleroderma occurring in a woman treated with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide for breast cancer. The clinical pattern of skin involvement and histological alterations were identical to those found in the classical form of scleroderma. Skin involvement progressed to affect 80% of total body area, and subsequently remained unchanged despite progression of the underlying cancer, making a paraneoplastic aetiology of the scleroderma unlikely. Specific chemotherapeutic agents might be directly responsible for the clinical manifestations and the parameters of progression. Analysis of all similar case reports defines the particular features and clinical course of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Cancer Center, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, New York Medical College, Bronx, New York 10466, USA. mddoru@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Alexandrescu
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bhagwati
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wiernik
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide