Oral and cutaneous lichenoid reaction secondary to standard dose imatinib: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate - Gleevec®, STI571- is an oral cancer drug that selectively inhibits several protein tyrosine kinases associated with human malignancy. The drug is used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and some other conditions. Treatment with imatinib is generally well tolerated but is not without the risk of adverse effects. Various types of skin eruptions have been reported. Cutaneous side effects with this treatment are common but a lichenoid drug eruption is rare. In this article, we report a 46-year-old woman who presented with lichen planus like lesions on the trunk and extremities, and oral mucosa due to the use of imatinib mesylate for the chronic myeloid leukemia. The literature on lichenoid drug eruption due to imatinib mesylate is reviewed.