Brachial plexopathy as a complication of intraarterial cisplatin chemotherapy

Intraarterial administration of chemotherapeutic agents provides greater local concentration at the tumor site without increased systemic toxicity. Although intravenous infusion of cisplatin is known to cause peripheral neuropathy and intraarterial administration has been reported to cause lumbosacral plexopathy, brachial plexopathy has not been described. We present a case in which infusion of cisplatin into the axillary artery resulted in permanent neurological damage to the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. Proper positioning of the infusion catheter is necessary to minimize potential neural damage.