BACKGROUND: Radiation recall refers to a tissue reaction produced by a chemotherapeutic agent in a previously irradiated field that would not occur in a nonirradiated field. A number of agents have been reported to cause radiation recall. Recently, there have been case reports of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel treatment. METHODS: A patient with metastatic lung cancer received palliative radiation to her mediastinum and ribs. Because of disease progression, she subsequently received paclitaxel. RESULTS: After paclitaxel administration, the patient became acutely dyspneic. A subsequent chest X-ray revealed a parenchymal opacity in a region that corresponded with the patient's radiation portal. She also developed a severe skin reaction in the previously treated electron field. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of few reported cases of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel and is also suggestive of recall pneumonitis, a phenomenon previously unreported to the authors' knowledge. Given paclitaxel's ability to function as a radiosensitizer, this response is not unexpected. As the frequency of paclitaxel administration increases, its potential as a radiation sensitizer and radiation recall should be considered.
BACKGROUND: Radiation recall refers to a tissue reaction produced by a chemotherapeutic agent in a previously irradiated field that would not occur in a nonirradiated field. A number of agents have been reported to cause radiation recall. Recently, there have been case reports of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel treatment. METHODS: A patient with metastatic lung cancer received palliative radiation to her mediastinum and ribs. Because of disease progression, she subsequently received paclitaxel. RESULTS: After paclitaxel administration, the patient became acutely dyspneic. A subsequent chest X-ray revealed a parenchymal opacity in a region that corresponded with the patient's radiation portal. She also developed a severe skin reaction in the previously treated electron field. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of few reported cases of recall dermatitis from paclitaxel and is also suggestive of recall pneumonitis, a phenomenon previously unreported to the authors' knowledge. Given paclitaxel's ability to function as a radiosensitizer, this response is not unexpected. As the frequency of paclitaxel administration increases, its potential as a radiation sensitizer and radiation recall should be considered.
Authors: Christian Spirig; Aurelius Omlin; Giannicola D'Addario; Klaus-Dieter Loske; Philipp Esenwein; Jan Henning Geismar; Thomas Ruhstaller Journal: J Med Case Rep Date: 2009-11-02
Authors: Christopher J Anker; Kenneth F Grossmann; Michael B Atkins; Gita Suneja; Ahmad A Tarhini; John M Kirkwood Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2016-06-01 Impact factor: 7.038