Chemotherapy and skin reactions.
BACKGROUND
New chemotherapic agents and new protocols in oncology have led to an increasing survival rate in patients affected by tumors. However, this increased use has been accompanied by a growth in the incidence of cutaneous side effects and a worsening of patients' quality of life. Appropriate management of skin toxicity associated with chemotherapic agents is therefore necessary for suitable drug administration and to improve quality of life and clinical outcomes.


METHODS
We have clinically examined 100 patients affected by cancer, determining type, frequency, treatment, and evolution of side effects related to chemotherapy.


RESULTS
The prevalent cutaneous side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy are skin rash, xerosis, pruritus, paronychia, hair abnormality, and mucositis. The clinical cases are reported in detail.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncological therapies have become more selective and have low systemic toxicity because of their high specificity, but cutaneous side effects are common and may worsen the quality of life of these patients.
Division of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Systematic Pathology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. gafabbro@unina.it
Gabriella
G
Fabbrocini
Norma
N
Cameli
Maria Concetta
MC
Romano
Maria
M
Mariano
Luigia
L
Panariello
Dario
D
Bianca
Giuseppe
G
Monfrecola
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents