Histopathogenesis of skin and subcutaneous injury induced by adriamycin.

Extravasation of Adriamycin from an intravenous needle or catheter can produce a progressive skin necrosis and deep painful ulceration. The pathological changes which result in this ulceration were studied in a rabbit model. The earliest changes include vascular obliteration and necrobiosis of collagen. At no point were inflammatory cells found to play a primary role.