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Management Of Anthracycline Extravasation Injuries, David J. Reeves

David Reeves

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence for the management of anthracycline extravasation and determine the optimal treatment of such injuries. DATA SOURCES: A search of MEDLINE (1966–February 2007) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–February 2007) was performed using the search terms anthracyclines and extravasation. DATA SYNTHESIS: Extravasation of anthracyclines can have devastating effects. After infiltration of these drugs into the interstitial tissue, damage may range from mild erythema and pain to severe tissue necrosis. Many agents have been studied in the management of these injuries; however, few have demonstrated efficacy and treatment remains controversial. Nonpharmacologic modalities shown to limit extravasation injuries include …