Three Cases of Flagellate Pigmentation from Intravenous Bleomycin.
- Author:
Hang Rae CHO
;
Mu Hyoung LEE
;
Choong Rim HAW
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Bleomycin;
Flagellate pigmentation
- MeSH:
Bleomycin*;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell;
Drug Therapy;
Erythema;
Gangrene;
Humans;
Hyperpigmentation;
Keratinocytes;
Lymphoma;
Melanosomes;
Pigmentation*;
Sclerosis;
Skin;
Streptomyces
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1997;35(2):317-321
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Bleomycin is an antitumoral antibiotic derived from Streptomyces verticillus in 1965. The drug has been used with a varying success in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas and malignant lymphomas. The cutaneous toxicities of bleomycin include hyperpigmentation, sclerosis, gangrene, nail changes and erythema. Linear streaks appear to be a characteristic eruption induced by bleomycin. We report three cases of flagellate pigmentation from intravenous bleomycin. Three patients were suffering from uterine cervical carcinomas and were treated with chemotherapy with a VBP (vincristine, bleomycin, cisplatire) regimen. During or after their courses of chemotherapy, dark brownish skin lesions developed on the body surface of these patients. A Light microscopic study of each specimen showed increased pigmentation of the basal layer and an electron microscopic study showed a slightly increased number of melanosomes in keratinocytes.
