Neurological Complications After Electrochemotherapy Treatment in the Head and Neck Area

Anticancer Res. 2021 Jul;41(7):3519-3522. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15139.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Electrochemotherapy; bleomycin; neurological complication; seizure; stroke.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology
  • Electrochemotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Head / pathology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neck / pathology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology