INTRODUCTION
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that has been recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.1 Sorafenib works by inhibiting tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in signaling pathways that allow for malignant behavior. Even though this drug has an excellent safety profile, 40-91 percent of patients have been reported to experience dermatologic side effects.2,3 The most commonly reported dermatologic manifestations include maculopapular eruptions, palmoplantar dysaestheisa (hand-footsyndrome), alopecia, and xerosis.2 After a review of the literature using PubMed search, to our knowledge a chloracne-like eruption has not been previously reported in the literature in association with this medication. The formation of cutaneous cysts has been reported, however, the severity and distribution were not described.3 The etiology of sorafenib's cutaneous toxicity is currently under investigation. Here we report two cases of a chloracne-like eruption in patients started on sorafenib for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
CASE REPORT
On physical exam, the patient was noted to have hundreds of open and closed comedones on his face in a malar distribution, behind the ears, on the upper chest, upper back and circumferential around the upper arms including the axilla (Figure 1, a-c). A 3 mm punch biopsy of the upper right chest was performed and histopathological analysis revealed milia-like cyst with a sparse lymphocytic inflammatory dermal infiltrate.
Because the patient's metatstatic renal cell carcinoma was stable since being started on sorafenib and given its efficacy in prolonging survival in patients with this disease, the medication was continued at its current dose.1 He was started on a 4% benzoyl peroxide wash and after two months of treatment; the patient
