In addition to dry skin, dryness of the mucosae (eyes, vagina, mouth or nose) may also occur in EGFRI-treated patients.1,2,3
Furthermore, conjunctivitis can be seen, either due to dryness (Xerophthalmia) or to mechanical irritation by trichomegalic eyelashes (conjunctivitis).2 Dry mouth, Aphthous stomatitis or a geographic tongue may be encountered in the oral mucosa.3,4 The genitalia are occasionally involved with dry vulvovaginitis (especially in postmenopausal women) or Balanitis.5
Incidence: Common.6,7,8,9,10
Onset: Some weeks to months after treatment initiation.
Resolution: Some weeks following completion of EGFRI treatment.
Conjunctivitis and Blepharitis
ICD10 codes:
- Y43.8 Other drugs, medicaments and biologicals, primarily systemic substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use, not elsewhere classified.
- H10.9 Conjunctivitis, unspecified.
- H19.3 Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Typical clinical presentations of conjunctivitis and Blepharitis can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
Vulvitis
ICD10 code:
- N76.8 Other specified inflammation of vagina and vulva.
Typical clinical presentation of vulvitis can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
Balanitis
ICD10 code:
- N51.2 Balanitis in diseases classified elsewhere
Typical clinical presentation of Balanitis can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
Oral mucositis
ICD10 code:
- K91.8 Other postprocedural disorders of digestive system, not elsewhere classified.
Typical clinical presentation of oral mucositis can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
References
1Segaert S & Van Cutsem E. Ann Oncol 2005; 16: 1425-1433.
2Melichar B & Nemcová I. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2007; 16: 439-443.
3Busam KJ et al. Br J Dermatol 2001; 144: 1169-1176.
4Segaert S & Van Cutsem E. Oncology (Williston Park) 2007; 21: 22-26.
5Segaert S et al. Eur J Cancer 2009; 45(Suppl 1): 295-308.
6European Medicine Agency. Tarceva® (erlotinib) Summary of Product Characteristics 2009.
7European Medicine Agency. Iressa® (gefitinib) Summary of Product Characteristics 2009.
8European Medicine Agency. Erbitux® (cetuximab) Summary of Product Characteristics 2009.
9European Medicine Agency. Vectibix® (panitumumab) Summary of Product Characteristics 2009.
10European Medicine Agency. Tyverb® (lapatinib) Summary of Product Characteristics 2010.