Mastitis after port site extravasation of taxane-based chemotherapy: case report

Drug extravasation is one of the uncommon complications of port catheter use. The incidence of drug extravasation in the literature is 0.01-7%. Depending on the extent of tissue damage and the cytotoxic effect of the drug, edema, cellulitis and even necrosis may occur in the breast or chest wall. We present a 38-year-old female patient with metastatic lung cancer who developed mastitis during paclitaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy received via the port catheter. Diffuse hyperemia, inflammation and blisters developed on the right breast. Daily paraffin antiseptic closure was applied to the wound and empirical antibiotic was given. After 21 days, local inflammatory signs resolved and only scar tissue remains on the skin of breast.