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Introduction: Pseudoscleroderma (scleroderma-like disease) is a group of rare and chronic skin conditions that mimics systemic sclerosis. The etiology of these diseases covers a wide range of causative factors, including drugs used in chemotherapy. Case report: A 78-year-old woman was admitted due to significant hardening of the skin in the dorsal surface of feet and distal part of the lower legs. These lesions occurred after a concluded chemotherapy with paclitaxel for right breast cancer. Treatment with pentoxifylline, topical clobetasol and 30% urea ointment was introduced. One month later an improvement in the clinical condition was observed. Conclusions: We present a case of pseudoscleroderma caused by paclitaxel and successfully treated with pentoxifylline and topical clobetaso- le. Conclusion of the treatment course with paclitaxel may have positively influenced the outcome in this treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic disorder associated with plasma cell dyscrasia. The acronym stands for coexisting polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes. Other relevant features of the syndrome are papilledema, sclerotic bone lesions, Castleman's disease, thrombocytosis, weight loss and increased vascular endothelial growth factor levels. The diagnostic criteria for POEMS are as follows: major criteria: polyneuropathy, monoclonal plasma cell dyscrasia; minor criteria: sclerotic bone lesions, Castleman's disease, organomegaly, endocrinopathies, edemas, skin changes, papilledema. To make a diagnosis, 2 major criteria and 1 minor criterion are required. We present a patient with pseudoscleroderma, polyneuropathy, hypothyroidism, monoclonal gammopathy, edemas and weight loss, who was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome as a result of interdisciplinary cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]