Severe reversible toxic encephalopathy induced by cisplatin in a patient with cervical carcinoma receiving combined radiochemotherapy.

Abstract

CASE REPORT:

A 45-year-old patient with cervix carcinoma received combined radiochemotherapy including cisplatin. After a cumulative dose of 240 mg/m(2) the patient suddenly became somnolent and developed a severe tetraparesis and generalized seizures. After ruling out intracranial bleeding, cerebral metastases as well as infectious and metabolic causes of this condition, a severe toxic encephalopathy was diagnosed based on the clinical findings and MRI scans. After symptomatic treatment on the intensive care unit all symptoms were completely reversible.

CONCLUSION:

Toxic encephalopathy is a rare but dramatic complication of various cytostatic drugs. With the widespread use of cisplatin this rare disorder should be kept in mind.

• Authors: Florian Sterzing, Christian Grehn, Julien Dinkel, Robert Krempien, Gernot Hartung, Jürgen Debus, Wolfgang Harms
• Journal: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al] (Strahlenther Onkol) Vol. 183 Issue 9 Pg. 487-9 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 0179-7158 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17762922 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
• Cisplatin

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Brachytherapy (adverse effects)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Caudate Nucleus (drug effects, pathology)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Epilepsy, Generalized (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Midline Thalamic Nuclei (drug effects, pathology)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neurologic Examination (drug effects)
• Neurotoxicity Syndromes (diagnosis, etiology)
• Occipital Lobe (drug effects, pathology)
• Radiation-Sensitizing Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Radioisotope Teletherapy (adverse effects)
• Remission, Spontaneous
• Thalamus (drug effects, pathology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy)