Severe skin reaction in a patient with gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with imatinib mesylate.

Imatinib mesylate is a selective protein kinase inhibitor, highly active in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Cutaneous toxicity, a well-recognized, dose-related side-effect of imatinib mesylate, has been reported in 18 to 69% of patients with GIST treated with doses ranging from 400 to 800 mg once a day. In this case-report a severe skin reaction observed in a patient with GIST treated with imatinib mesylate, in an adjuvant setting and whose severity led to definitive drug discontinuation, is described. Therapeutic management and clinical course are illustrated.