title: Pneumatosis intestinalis after cetuximab-containing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.
abstract: Cetuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor receptor, is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Whereas several specific adverse reactions to cetuximab such as skin rash and nail toxicity have been reported, there have been few reports of pneumatosis intestinalis related to cetuximab-containing chemotherapy. We describe here three patients with colorectal cancer who developed pneumatosis intestinalis during treatment with cetuximab-containing chemotherapy, which developed after 7, 19 and 47 weeks of cetuximab treatment, and discovered on routine follow-up computed tomographic scans for response evaluations. None of these patients complained of abdominal pain, showed signs of peritoneal irritation on physical examination or had elevated serum concentrations of acute inflammatory markers. Following cessation of cetuximab and conservative medical treatment, all three patients showed complete resolution of pneumatosis intestinalis on abdominal pelvic computed tomographic scans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 86 Asanbyeongwon-gil, Poongnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shinkyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yong Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Seong Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Lyun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab