TY - JOUR
T1 - Brain radiotherapy during treatment with anticonvulsant therapy as a trigger for toxic epidermal necrolysis
AU - Metro, Giulio
AU - Pino, Simona
AU - Pellegrini, Domenica
AU - Sacerdoti, Giorgio
AU - Fabi, Alessandra
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe mucocutaneous syndrome that can be occasionally caused by anticonvulsant drugs. In some cases, cranial irradiation may act as a precipitating factor. Thus, in cancer patients who suffer from brain metastases and are administered antiepileptic drugs for seizure prophylaxis, the risk of developing TEN after receiving palliative brain radiotherapy cannot be ignored. We is reported. The case of a young patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with prophylactic phenobarbital who developed TEN within a few days of completing cranial radiotherapy for brain metastases is reported. To minimize the risk of TEN in patients undergoing brain radiotherapy, prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy is recommended only after an accurate measurement of the true benefits. Alternatively, discontinuation of antiepileptic treatment before the initiation of brain radiotherapy, or the use of anticonvulsants associated with a lower risk of developing cutaneous reactions might be considered.
AB - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe mucocutaneous syndrome that can be occasionally caused by anticonvulsant drugs. In some cases, cranial irradiation may act as a precipitating factor. Thus, in cancer patients who suffer from brain metastases and are administered antiepileptic drugs for seizure prophylaxis, the risk of developing TEN after receiving palliative brain radiotherapy cannot be ignored. We is reported. The case of a young patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with prophylactic phenobarbital who developed TEN within a few days of completing cranial radiotherapy for brain metastases is reported. To minimize the risk of TEN in patients undergoing brain radiotherapy, prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy is recommended only after an accurate measurement of the true benefits. Alternatively, discontinuation of antiepileptic treatment before the initiation of brain radiotherapy, or the use of anticonvulsants associated with a lower risk of developing cutaneous reactions might be considered.
KW - Brain radiotherapy
KW - Phenobarbital
KW - Prophylactic anticonvulsant
KW - Toxic epidermal necrolysis
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M3 - Article
C2 - 17465258
AN - SCOPUS:34247105950
VL - 27
SP - 1167
EP - 1169
JO - Anticancer Research
JF - Anticancer Research
SN - 0250-7005
IS - 2
ER -