Five of 55 patients with metastatic carcinomas or unresectable primary carcinomas developed a peripheral neuropathy with "low dose" cisplatin therapy, consisting of 20 mg/m2 weekly. The neuropathy was primarily sensory, consisting of painful parasthesias and numbness in a "stocking glove" distribution. The cumulative dose at which neuropathy developed varied from 100 to 640 mg/m2. The symptoms and signs of neurologic dysfunction were minimally reversible despite discontinuation of the drug. Despite lower dose delivery of cisplatin, significant debilitating neurologic toxicity may occur.