Long persistence of doxorubicin in human skin after extravasation.

Extravasation of doxorubicin (DXR) from a dorsal hand vein is described. At 28 days following this event, high dermal concentrations of DXR were still present, not only at the injection site (1.7 X 10(-6) M X g-1) but also at a distance of 5 cm (0.4 X 10(-6) m X g-1. This long persistence of DXR in the skin necessitates ample excision of the skin following severe extravasation of the drug.