[Acute mesenteric ischemia and rhinopharyngeal carcinoma].
This work is a part of a pharmacovigilancy survey.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the links between radiation therapy, chemotherapy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and mesenteric ischemia.


METHODS
A case of 69 year old man with a nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, who developed a lethal mesenteric ischemia is described. Etiology of mesenteric ischemia was unknown. A review of literature had been made on Pubmed with terms: "Mesenteric ischemia" and cisplatin, 5-FU or fluorouracil, radiation therapy, cancer or neoplasm, "head and neck cancer" or "carcinoma of the nasopharynx.


RESULTS
In our case, the origin of the mesenteric ischemia is not atheromatous. Chimiotherapy with 5-fluorouracile and cisplatine, radiation therapy and morphine were suspected. According to literature, responsibility of morphine and radiation therapy is uncertain. In opposition, the 5-FU and the cisplatine can be incriminated.


CONCLUSIONS
Mesenteric ischemia is an uncommon adverse effect of a treatment with cisplatin and 5-FU. It's the second case of mesenteric ischemia associated with a treatment with 5-FU and cisplatin in a patient with a nasopharyngeal carcinoma. ENT physicians must be aware of this complication.
Pigneret
S
S
CHU Côte de Nacre, Pharmacie, 14033 Caen, France. stephanie.pigneret@gmail.com
Baudon Lecame
M
M
Chédru Legros
V
V
Choussy
O
O
Babin
E
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects