Eruptive basal cell carcinoma and lenalidomide: rising awareness among dermatologists

Abstract

Lenalidomide (L) is approved for treating multiple myeloma (MM), being preferred to its parent drug, thalidomide, for its superior safety. We report the case of a patient developing more than 10 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) within 1 month of starting L. Notably, his treating hematologist neither recommended sun avoidance nor alerted him to this possible side effect. Moreover, not even the referring dermatologist was capable of linking the eruption of BCC to L. The tendency of L to promote BCCs may be underreported compared with other hematological drugs with known dermatological side effects such as hydroxyurea.