title: Fatal cerebral air embolus complicating multimodality treatment of esophageal cancer.
abstract: A 38-year-old woman with clinical T3N1M0 esophageal adenocarcinoma received an institutional protocol of induction chemotherapy, esophagectomy, and consolidation chemoradiotherapy. Three months after treatment, she had an acute mental status change develop and grand mal seizures. Intracranial imaging demonstrated massive cerebral air emboli, and a rapidly fatal neurologic deterioration ensued. At autopsy, a nonmalignant 0.5-cm gastric conduit to the left atrial fistula was identified. This case illustrates a rare, but fatal, late benign complication of aggressive therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors: Siva
authors: S
authors: Raja
authors: Thomas W
authors: TW
authors: Rice
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Mason
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Tan
authors: E Rene
authors: ER
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Manno
authors: Gregory M
authors: GM
authors: Videtic
authors: Sudish C
authors: SC
authors: Murthy
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology*