Neurological Complications After Electrochemotherapy Treatment in the Head and Neck Area

• BACKGROUND/AIM: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a predominately palliative treatment for cutaneous metastases where an electric field is used to increase the intracellular accumulation of a chemotherapeutic drug (bleomycin or cisplatin). ECT induces a strong anti-vascular effect and endothelial cells seem especially vulnerable. To date, almost no neurological and/or cerebrovascular complications after ECT treatment have been published. In this paper two such cases are reported.CASE REPORT: A seizure in a man treated with ECT for a basal cell carcinoma in the temporal region and a fatal ischemic stroke in a woman treated for cutaneous metastases in the neck are reported. In both cases a causal relationship to ECT treatment was strongly suspected.CONCLUSION: ECT in the head and neck can potentially cause severe neurological complications. Ultrasound is recommended for ECT treatment in the neck.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Electrochemotherapy

bleomycin

neurological complication

seizure

stroke

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)