An unusual terminal hair growth on the nose tip associated with gefitinib therapy

A 65-year-old woman undergoing gefitinib therapy for metastatic lung adenocarcinoma developed unusual terminal hair growth on her nose tip. This occurred after she started taking gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which is used to target cancer cells. The hair growth began as tiny brown to black spots and progressed to 1-3 mm long terminal hairs, without affecting other body areas. A skin biopsy confirmed the presence of multiple hair follicles in the anagen phase. Despite the recommendation to discontinue gefitinib due to this side effect, the treatment was continued because of the poor response of her cancer to previous therapies, and the hair growth persisted.