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Case Reports
. 2022 Jul;13(14):2075-2077.
doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14480. Epub 2022 May 20.

A rare case of docetaxel-induced myositis in a patient with a lung adenocarcinoma

Akane Ishida  1 , Ayumi Ushio  1 , Masao Hashimoto  1 , Satoru Ishii  1 , Go Naka  1 , Motoyasu Iikura  1 , Shinyu Izumi  1 , Masayuki Hojo  1 , Haruhito Sugiyama  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare case of docetaxel-induced myositis in a patient with a lung adenocarcinoma

Akane Ishida et al. Thorac Cancer. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Docetaxel is a cytotoxic taxane frequently used to treat patients with various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Docetaxel is known to cause acute myalgias, arthralgias, and neuropathy, but there have been few published case reports of myositis. Here, we describe a rare case of docetaxel-induced myositis diagnosed based on laboratory data, thigh magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electromyography (EEG). A 66-year-old male was admitted for thigh pain and fatigue that onset 1 week prior. He had been diagnosed with stage IVA (cT4N0M1a) NSCLC 3 years ago and had been started on docetaxel (60 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks; fourth-line chemotherapy) 1 month earlier. After the second cycle, he developed both thigh pain and fatigue. On admission, his creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level was elevated, thigh MRI revealed diffuse muscle edema, and EEG showed myogenic changes. We found no plausible cause for myositis except docetaxel. He was diagnosed with myositis and treated with oral prednisolone. His symptoms were relieved and the CPK level declined. Although rare, this case indicates that clinicians should consider the possibility of myositis as a complication in patients on docetaxel.

Keywords: docetaxel; lung cancer; myositis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Coronal T2‐weighted MRI of the thighs revealed diffuse muscular edema involving the bilateral gluteal and thigh muscles
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Shows the time course of CPK values during steroid therapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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