Case for diagnosis. Radiotherapy-induced pemphigus vegetans

An Bras Dermatol. 2022 May-Jun;97(3):376-378. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.005. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Abstract

A 73-year-old male patient developed a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in the anal canal nine months ago. He was treated with two cycles of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin and concomitant radiotherapy (6 MeV linear photon accelerator, total dose of 54 Gy), with complete remission. Since forty-five days he presentes a painful perianal and intergluteal erosion with circinate pustular borders. Light microscopy showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia of the epidermis with microabscesses of inflammatory cells (neutrophils and eosinophils) and acantholytic keratinocytes . Indirect immunofluorescence was positive for IgG, with an intercellular pattern, 1:80 titer. The diagnosis of radiotherapy-induced pemphigus vegetans was established and there was significant regression with oral prednisone (40 mg) and topical betamethasone.

Keywords: Pemphigus vegetans; Radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Male
  • Pemphigus* / diagnosis
  • Pemphigus* / drug therapy
  • Pemphigus* / etiology
  • Suppuration