Spinal cord toxicity complicating treatment with cisplatin and etoposide.
Neurologic toxicity occurring in patients treated with cisplatin chemotherapy is limited primarily to peripheral neuropathy and ototoxicity. Lhermitte's sign, electric-like paresthesias precipitated by cervical spine flexion, has recently been described as a self-limited complication in cisplatin-treated patients. We report the development of Lhermitte's sign accompanied by cervical motor neuropathy, dorsal column myelopathy, and sensory neuropathy in a patient treated with cisplatin and etoposide for small cell lung cancer. Persistence of the neurologic deficit suggests that potentially irreversible spinal cord toxicity may complicate treatment with this chemotherapy combination.
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Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
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D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*