A Case of 5-fluorouracil-induced Phototoxicity / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite which prevents thymine synthesis and suppresses the utilization of preformed uracil. A variety of cutaneous reactions have been reported with the use of systemic 5-FU, the most common being photosensitivity. We report a case of 5-FU induced phototoxicity in a 73-year-old male. The patient had tender and slightly pruritic scaly and crusted erythema on sun-exposed areas. A biopsy revealed necrotic keratinocytes with epidermal degeneration. After the cessation of 5-FU, the skin lesions showed a marked improvement, and there was no further photosensitivity to the skin.