title: 5-fluorouracil-induced leukoencephalopathy in patients with breast cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristic clinical features, radiologic findings, and precipitating and prognostic factors in the patients with breast cancer and with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced leukoencephalopathy. We reviewed the medical records of six breast cancer patients who developed leukoencephalopathy after chemotherapy which included 5-FU and also evaluated thorough neurological examinations including mini-mental status examination, cerebrospinal fluid studies, brain images and brain biopsies. Six patients exhibited slowly progressing neurologic symptoms characterized by the impairment of cognitive function, abulia, ataxic gait, and/or akinetic mutism. None of the patients had any specific causes or etiologic factors for leukoencephalopathy. Brain MRI in all patients showed diffuse periventricular white matter changes in the T2-weighted MR image. Brain biopsy in Patient 1 showed fragmented axonal fiber and minimally deprived myelination with many scattered macrophages. Five patients who treated with steroids at the onset of neurological symptoms showed clinical improvement, regardless of their age, sex, the pathology and stage of breast cancer, or the total dosage of chemotherapeutic agents. We conclude that leukoencephalopathy in these cases could be attributable to 5-FU neurotoxicity and suggest that the administration of steroids might be the treatment of choice.
authors: Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea. drchoism@lycos.co.kr
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Choi
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Y S
authors: YS
authors: Yang
authors: B C
authors: BC
authors: Kim
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Kim
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; C017367:carmofur; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008775:Methylprednisolone