title: Accidental intrathecal administration of vincristine.
abstract: We describe a case of accidental intrathecal administration of vincristine in a 33-year-old man with clinical diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia. The patient died 20 days after receiving the drug. Clinically, the patient developed acute ascending paralysis with motor and sensory dysfunctions, and respiratory failure. Neuropathological investigation revealed lesions in spinal cord, roots, and cerebellum characterized by rarefaction of the neuropil, axonal, and myelin degeneration, accompanied by macrophagic infiltration.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Office, Forensic Medical Corps, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Addario
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galuppo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navari
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Nélida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuello
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riudavets
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D009336:Necrosis; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine