Generalized xerotic dermatitis with neutrophilic spongiosis induced by erlotinib (Tarceva (R))

Erlotinib is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used as an anticancer agent. Most patients develop a pustular facial dermatitis within the first week of treatment. Pyogenic granulomas of the nail folds are another typical adverse event occurring in about 10-15% of cases. We report on a patient who developed a generalized dermatitis characterized by neutrophilic spongiosis. Neutrophilic inflammation has been observed in several drugs that interfere with EGFR signaling, suggesting a class effect. The present case may be yet another manifestation of this particular reaction pattern. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.