title: EMPACT syndrome associated with phenobarbital.
abstract: Intracranial malignancies can be complicated by seizure activity, and anticonvulsants such as phenytoin are usually administered to prevent this neurological kind of complication. Cranial radiation therapy is instead the treatment of choice when the tumor is unresectable. Anyway, the combination of phenytoin and cranial radiation therapy can lead to a rare and severe mucocutaneous complication called EMPACT syndrome. It is composed of "erythema (E) multiforme (M) associated with phenytoin (P) and (A) cranial radiation (C) therapy (T)." Herein, we report 2 cases of EMPACT syndrome related to the use of phenobarbital instead of phenytoin as usually described in literature.
authors: Division of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Systematic Pathology, Naples, Italy. gafabbro@unina.it
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Fabbrocini
authors: Luigia
authors: L
authors: Panariello
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Pensabene
authors: Rossella
authors: R
authors: Lauria
authors: Elide
authors: E
authors: Matano
authors: Donata
authors: D
authors: Martellotta
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Bianca
authors: Sabino
authors: S
authors: De Placido
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Ayala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010634:Phenobarbital