Scrotal Ulcers Arising during Treatment with All-trans Retinoic Acid for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Daisuke SHIMIZU; Kenichi NOMURA; Ryuzo MATSUYAMA; Yosuke MATSUMOTO; Kyoji UEDA; Koji MASUDA; Tomohiko TAKI; Kazuhiro NISHIDA; Shigeo HORIIKE; Saburo KISHIMOTO; Akio YANAGISAWA; Masafumi TANIWAKI

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.44.480

CASE REPORTS

Scrotal Ulcers Arising during Treatment with All-trans Retinoic Acid for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Daisuke SHIMIZU, Kenichi NOMURA, Ryuzo MATSUYAMA, Yosuke MATSUMOTO, Kyoji UEDA, Koji MASUDA, Tomohiko TAKI, Kazuhiro NISHIDA, Shigeo HORIIKE, Saburo KISHIMOTO, Akio YANAGISAWA, Masafumi TANIWAKI

Author information

Daisuke SHIMIZU
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Kenichi NOMURA
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Ryuzo MATSUYAMA
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Yosuke MATSUMOTO
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Kyoji UEDA
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Koji MASUDA
Department of Dermatology
Tomohiko TAKI
Department of Clinical Molecular Genetics and Laboratory Medicine
Kazuhiro NISHIDA
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Shigeo HORIIKE
Department of Molecular Hematology and Oncology
Saburo KISHIMOTO
Department of Dermatology
Akio YANAGISAWA
Department of Surgical Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Masafumi TANIWAKI
Department of Clinical Molecular Genetics and Laboratory Medicine

Keywords: all-trans retinoic acid, localized scrotal ulcers, severe fever, acute promyelocytic leukemia

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2005 Volume 44 Issue 5 Pages 480-483

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.44.480

Details

Abstract

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is effective in approximately 90% of the cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with a low incidence of adverse effects. We report a patient with APL who developed skin ulcers of the scrotum concomitant with high fever during treatment that included ATRA. Severe fever was promptly alleviated with discontinuation of ATRA, while the ulcers improved gradually over 3 months. As the clinical features are similar to those of Sweet’s syndrome, we should be aware of the possibility that this rare adverse effect may occur in the treatment with ATRA.

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