Case Report

Extensive arterial and venous thrombo-embolism with chemotherapy for testicular cancer: a case report

Ramesh Batra¹ , Jonathan N Davies¹ and Duncan Wheatley²

¹  Surgical Directorate, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro, UK

²  Department of Oncology, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro, UK

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Cases Journal 2009, 2:9082doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-9082

Published:	24 November 2009

Abstract

Germ cell tumours tend to affect young adults and with advanced treatments achieve more than 90% cure rates. Over the years cisplatin has significantly improved the relapse free survival in these patients, hence forming an essential component of chemotherapy regimes. But, the thrombo-embolic complications suffered with cisplatin significantly affect the quality of life in these young patients.

We describe a young adult who suffered a potentially fatal cerebral and pulmonary vascular insult on completing first cycle of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for a non-seminomatous germ cell tumour. Venous and arterial thrombo-embolism was the mechanism of injury and was promptly managed surgically and medically including neuro-rehabilitation.