Good clinical and cost outcomes using dexrazoxane to treat accidental epirubicin extravasation

A 75-year-old man diagnosed with lower esophageal adenocarcinoma suffered from epirubicin extravasation during the second cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin and oxaliplatin. A full recovery was achieved after treatment with dexrazoxane (Cardioxane^® ). This is the first time in our hospital that extravasation of an anthracycline has been treated with dexrazoxane. We used Cardioxane^® , approved for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, while Savene^® is indicated for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation. The treatment was effective, and the selection of Cardioxane^® (seven-fold cheaper than Savene^® ) yielded a cost saving. Consequently, Cardioxane^® has been included in our guidelines for anthracycline extravasation.