Hepatic failure in a patient treated with dacarbazine (DTIC) for malignant melanoma

A 55-year-old white woman received chemotherapy with DTIC after surgery for malignant melanoma (stage I, SSM IV, depth of invasion 12 mm). She died suddenly during the second treatment cycle. Autopsy revealed massive necrosis of the liver and thrombosis of the hepatic veins. The cause of the fatal outcome is attributed to the adverse toxic effects of DTIC.