Irinotecan-Induced Transient Dysarthria: Case Series and Updated Literature Review

Mariagrazia De Lisa1, Zelmira Ballatore1, Giulia Marcantognini1

  • 1Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti-Ancona, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.

Oncology and Therapy
|July 24, 2020
PubMed

Irinotecan-based regimens are used worldwide for the treatment of several recurrent or advanced gastrointestinal malignancies. In this paper we describe the cases of four patients treated in our institution who developed acute dysarthria while receiving intravenous infusion of irinotecan. In all our cases, dysarthria occurred during the infusion of the first course of irinotecan, and then resolved rapidly without any sequelae. Imaging of the brain was performed, but failed to show any evidence of an acute neurological event. We also reviewed the literature on this very uncommon adverse event. The pathogenesis of irinotecan-induced dysarthria is still unknown and is not completely elucidated by the current pharmacodynamic or kinetic explanations; therefore, we could only hypothesize some assumptions.

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