Abstract
Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella in children and reactivation zoster in adults. A 79-year-old gentleman with an old history of varicella infection receiving methotrexate for advanced tongue cancer presented with multiple vesiculo-papular lesions in axillae and chest wall. The lesions were multidermatomal in distribution, painless, indurated, and nontender. A Tzanck smear confirmed the diagnosis of herpes zoster. His lesions resolved on antiviral therapy. Dermatologic side effects of methotrexate are otherwise rare and occur in 1%–10% of patients. Nevertheless, advanced cancer or cancer chemotherapy may cause immunosuppression leading to reactivation of VZV in some patients.
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