Background: The brain is a frequent site of metastases in small-cell lung cancer. Symptoms of cerebral involvement are headache, disorientation, nausea/vomiting and seizures. Case: A man with small-cell lung cancer developed a human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) meningoencephalitis with neurological symptoms that simulated brain involvement from the lung cancer. HHV-6 is a T cell lymphotropic virus which may be pathogenic in the immunocompromised host. HHV-6 remains latent after the first infection, and when the immune system is compromised it can reactivate. The treatment of HHV-6 infection is highly specific and the drugs recommended are the two antivirals, ganciclovir or foscarnet. Conclusion: In cancer patients neurologic symptoms are usually due to brain metastases. This case shows that in a cancer patient any aspecific neurologic symptom should be carefully evaluated in order to exclude a non-oncologic cause. This statement is particularly true if the therapies for the oncological and neurological diseases are effective. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis simulating brain metastases in a patient with advanced small-cell lung cancer / Mordenti, P., Zaffignani, E., Immovilli, P., Nobili, E., Cavanna, L.. - In: CHEMOTHERAPY. - ISSN 0009-3157. - 59:5(2014), pp. 385-386. [10.1159/000360616]
Human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis simulating brain metastases in a patient with advanced small-cell lung cancer
Immovilli P.;
2014-01-01
Abstract
Background: The brain is a frequent site of metastases in small-cell lung cancer. Symptoms of cerebral involvement are headache, disorientation, nausea/vomiting and seizures. Case: A man with small-cell lung cancer developed a human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) meningoencephalitis with neurological symptoms that simulated brain involvement from the lung cancer. HHV-6 is a T cell lymphotropic virus which may be pathogenic in the immunocompromised host. HHV-6 remains latent after the first infection, and when the immune system is compromised it can reactivate. The treatment of HHV-6 infection is highly specific and the drugs recommended are the two antivirals, ganciclovir or foscarnet. Conclusion: In cancer patients neurologic symptoms are usually due to brain metastases. This case shows that in a cancer patient any aspecific neurologic symptom should be carefully evaluated in order to exclude a non-oncologic cause. This statement is particularly true if the therapies for the oncological and neurological diseases are effective. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
