A case of toxic leucoencephalopathy induced by 5FU derivatives

: A case of toxic leucoencephalopathy induced by 5 FU derivatives is reported. A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed as having breast cancer, and radical mastectomy was performed on May, 1982. After operation, she was given irradiation and 5FU derivative (tegafur or carmofur) 600 mg and Nolvadex 20 mg (tamoxifen citrate) were administered every day. After taking the medication for a month, she began to stagger and developed a tremor in both arms. She was admitted to our hospital on August 16, because she showed evidence of dysarthria and memory disturbance in addition to her initial complaints. Soon after admission, she developed akinetic mutism, and metastasis in the brain stem was suspected. In spite of her severe condition, she was given radiation over the posterior fossa and continued the medication. On September 22, CT disclosed low density area in the centrum semiovale bilaterally. She died of DIC on November 30. An autopsy was performed. The brain weight was 1110 g and the outer surface of the brain was normal. In frontal cut surfaces stained with K.B., bilateral degeneration of the centrum semiovale was apparent. Microscopically, the degree of myelin degeneration was stronger than that of axon, and numerous fatty granular cells were found in the degenerated area. There were no bizarre shaped astrocytes, inclusion body or cellular infiltration. Fibrillary gliosis was scanty. No metastasis was found in the central nervous system or other organs. Based on these pathological findings and clinical history, toxic leucoencephalopathy induced by 5 FU derivatives was suggested.