Gastric perforation presenting as empyema in a patient with pancreatic cancer on bevacizumab treatment.
Bowel perforation is a rare but life-threatening complication of bevacizumab, a new anticancer treatment. Patients with bowel perforation usually present with acute abdominal symptoms. Here a case history is presented to highlight a pancreatic cancer patient on bevacizumab chemotherapy who developed empyema as the first manifestation of gastric perforation. This unusual presentation warns physicians that bevacizumab-related bowel perforation can arise as a thoracic complication, without typical gastrointestinal manifestations, in an advanced cancer patient.
Shao
Yu-Yun
YY
Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd, Taipei 10002, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Lin
Zhong-Zhe
ZZ
Liang
Po-Chin
PC
Tien
Yu-Wen
YW
Cheng
Ann-Lii
AL
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004653:Empyema / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab