Korean J Dermatol.  2003 Oct;41(10):1393-1395.

A Case of Subungal Abscess And Onycholysis Related to Docetaxel

• Lee MS
• Kim HO
• Park YM

Abstract

Docetaxel is a new taxoid antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced breast cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. Skin and nail change is one of the most frequent nonhematologic adverse reactions. Nail changes include dark pigmentation, subungal hemorrhage, acute paronychia, onycholysis and Beau's line. A 43-year-old woman with metastatic stomach cancer developed painful subungal abscess and secondary onycholysis of all fingernails after three courses of docetaxel chemotherapy(cumulative dose: 360mg). Puncturing under the nail plate expressed a purulent serous fluid. Microbiological cultures revealed heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The docetaxel therapy was discontinused and 3rd generation cephalosporin was started. After 3-weeks antibiotic therapy, subungal abscess was improved. To our knowlege, this is the second case report of subungal abscess related to docetaxel chemotherapy.

Keyword

Docetaxel; Subungal abscess; Onycholysis

MeSH Terms

Abscess*
Adult
Breast Neoplasms
Drug Therapy
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Nails
Onycholysis*
Paronychia
Pigmentation
Skin
Staphylococcus aureus
Stomach Neoplasms