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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Electrochemotherapy of Tumours
Published on: December 15, 2008
Neurological Complications After Electrochemotherapy Treatment in the Head and Neck Area
Fredrik Landström1,2, Stefan Kristiansson3, Peter Appelros2,4
1Department of Otolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; fredrik.landstrom@regionorebrolan.se.
Background/Aim:
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a predominately palliative treatment for cutaneous metastases where an electric field is used to increase the intracellular accumulation of a chemotherapeutic drug (bleomycin or cisplatin). ECT induces a strong anti-vascular effect and endothelial cells seem especially vulnerable. To date, almost no neurological and/or cerebrovascular complications after ECT treatment have been published. In this paper two such cases are reported.
Case Report:
A seizure in a man treated with ECT for a basal cell carcinoma in the temporal region and a fatal ischemic stroke in a woman treated for cutaneous metastases in the neck are reported. In both cases a causal relationship to ECT treatment was strongly suspected.
Conclusion:
ECT in the head and neck can potentially cause severe neurological complications. Ultrasound is recommended for ECT treatment in the neck.
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