Comparison of granulocyte-colony, stimulating factor and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor in the treatment of chemotherapy extravasation ulcers

The results of perilesional granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating facto r and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor application in a patient with c hemotherapy extravasation ulcers are reported. A 64-year-old patient with r ecurrent ovarian carcinoma was admitted To our department in February 1999. In June 1998, sis cycles of chemotherapy were applied to the patient after surgery. At the first cycle, two ulcers appeared on both lower arms relate d to doxorubicin extravasation despite all interventions. When the patient was admitted to in our department, we observed an ulcer on the distal part of the right lower arm with a dimension of 1.5x2 cm and another on the prox imal portion of the left lower arm with a dimension of 2.5x3 cm. Of those u lcers, the bigger and deeper one on the left was treated with weekly 400 me g granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor subcutaneously fur three weeks. The lesion completely disappeared in the fourth week. The other ulc er that was left for control on the right arm was treated with weekly 48 M. U. granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for four weeks. This ulcer did not reduce in size. As a result granulocyte-colony stimulating factor did not affect the healing of chemotherapy extravasation ulcers, as did granulocyte macrophage-stimulating factor.