Fixed erythrodysaesthesia plaque due to intravenous injection of docetaxel

Docetaxel (Taxotere(R)), a semisynthetic taxoid, acts as an antimicrotubule agent and is considered to have great potential in the treatment of non-sm all cell lung cancer, advanced breast cancer, ovarian cancer and some other tumours, Well-recognized side-effects include dose-limiting neutropenia, f luid retention, myalgia, neuropathy, hypersensitivity reaction, alopecia, m ucositis, nail changes and cutaneous reactions such as acral erythema. We d escribe a unique docetaxel-induced cutaneous reaction presenting as fixed e rythematous plaque(s) unrelated to extravasation or previous skin injury; h istopathological studies were performed in three of the four cases.