Faculty Collaboration Database

Delayed, transient encephalopathy after marrow transplantation: case reports and MRI findings in four patients. J Neurooncol 1996 Mar;27(3):241-50

Date

03/01/1996

Pubmed ID

8847558

DOI

10.1007/BF00165481

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029872571 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

Subacute encephalopathy developed in four patients within one to two months after undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood progenitor (stem) cell transplantation for breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. None of the patients had previously known neurologic disorders, central nervous tumor or infection. Two patients presented with generalized tonic, clonic seizures, and two with confusion and lethargy. In all patients lumbar puncture and CT scans of the brain were normal, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multifocal predominantly white matter lesions. Phenytoin therapy was given to the two patients with seizures and all four patients improved without specific therapeutic intervention. Repeat MRIs became normal within three months. We report a delayed and transient encephalopathy which appears to be a unique complication of high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy. The corresponding brain lesions may not be appreciated on CT scans, suggesting an expanded role for MRI studies in patients who develop neurologic findings while undergoing high-dose cytotoxic therapy.

Author List

Tahsildar HI, Remler BF, Creger RJ, Cooper BW, Snodgrass SM, Tarr RW, Lazarus HM

Author

Bernd F. Remler MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acute Disease
Adult
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Brain Diseases
Female
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Time Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed