Radiotherapy-Associated Paraneoplastic Pemphigus and Its Complications in a Patient with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Paraneoplastic pemphigus arising in association with non-haematological cancers is extremely rare, and there are no reported cases of a patient developing this in the setting of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and only 2 reported cases of patients developing this in response to radiotherapy. Here, we present the case of a patient who developed radiotherapy-associated paraneoplastic pemphigus in the setting of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and who then developed multiple complications.

Learning Points: Paraneoplastic pemphigus has a remarkably similar clinical picture to other dermatologic diseases (for example, pemphigus vulgaris), and therefore, it is easy to miss the diagnosis.Patients with oral and mucocutaneous lesions refractory to conventional therapy should be worked up for underlying occult malignancy.Our case highlights that prompt diagnosis and initiation of immunosuppressive therapy alongside effective management of complications can ensure recovery and survival.