Pulmonary emboli as a complication of germ cell cancer treatment

A total of 3 patients with germ cell cancer had pulmonary emboli while receiving cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. In addition to cisplatin, 1 patient was receiving etoposide plus doxorubicin, 1 vinblastine plus bleomycin and 1 etoposide plus bleomycin at the time of the vascular event. One patient died of cardiovascular collapse, while the other 2 presented with severe shortness of breath, hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain. A review of vascular complications of cisplatin-containing chemotherapy is presented. Awareness and early recognition of pulmonary emboli in patients receiving these chemotherapeutic agents may minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality.