Suspected paclitaxel-induced pneumonitis

Gastric Cancer. 2006;9(4):325-8. doi: 10.1007/s10120-006-0388-1. Epub 2006 Nov 24.

Abstract

We report two patients with advanced gastric cancer with suspected paclitaxel-induced interstitial pneumonitis. Case 1, a 66-year-old man with recurrent gastric cancer, was treated weekly with paclitaxel. After 11 administrations of paclitaxel, he developed a nonproductive cough and dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed extensive bilateral areas of ground-glass attenuation. He did not respond to corticosteroid, and died 57 days after the last paclitaxel administration. Case 2, a 61-year-old man with gastric cancer and liver metastasis, was treated with weekly paclitaxel. The liver metastasis was dramatically reduced in size, but he developed a nonproductive cough and dyspnea after 21 administrations of paclitaxel. He did not respond to high-dose corticosteroid, and died 50 days after the last paclitaxel administration. Although it is a rare complication, paclitaxel-induced interstitial pneumonitis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients treated with paclitaxel present with fever, nonproductive cough, and dyspnea.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects*
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced*
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Paclitaxel