Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap in a patient receiving cetuximab and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

• Published in: International journal of dermatology Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 864 - 867
• Main Authors: Urosevic-Maiwald, Mirjana, Harr, Thomas, French, Lars E., Dummer, Reinhard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Cetuximab; Chemoradiotherapy - adverse effects; Humans; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; Laryngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Laryngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Male; Radiodermatitis - etiology; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome - complications; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome - drug therapy; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome - etiology
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05356.x

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe and life‐threatening adverse drug reactions. Herein we report about a patient with head and neck cancer, who developed SJS‐TEN overlap after having received cetuximab and radiotherapy. To date, there are only two reports of TEN associated with cetuximab therapy in patients with cancer. Every skin condition in a patient with cancer leading to extensive exfoliation of the skin should alert the oncologist of a possibility of drug‐induced SJS or TEN.