Herpes zoster and small cell bronchogenic carcinoma

In nine of 74 (12 per cent) consecutive, previously untreated patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma receiving combination chemotherapy herpes zoster developed. This is the highest frequency reported for this viral infection in patients with nonlymphoproliferative solid tumors. Cutaneous dissemination developed in six of the nine patients, but visceral involvement did not occur. The major difference between the patients with herpes zoster and those without was the superior duration of median survival for the infected patients. No relationship could be established between the development of herpes zoster and the extent of neoplastic disease, prior radiotherapy, treatment with specific chemotherapeutic agents or corticosteroids, cutaneous anergy or granulocytopenia. Serum specimens obtained from six of the nine patients prior to their infection demonstrated the preexistence of varicella zoster antibodies. As more effective and intensive chemotherapy prolongs the survival of patients with solid tumors, it is possible that the frequency of herpes zoster infection may approach that observed in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies.