[Acute tongue necrosis provoked by epirubicin-cyclophosphamide treatment for invasive ductal breast cancer].

METHODS

Unilateral necrosis of the tongue is an uncommon symptom of different rare diseases. Previously, it had only been described as an infrequent complication of temporal arteritis or as a side effect of therapy with ergotamine. We present a case of unilateral necrosis of the tongue in a 62-year-old woman with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast treated with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide.

RESULTS

The necrosis led to a rapid swelling of the tongue and consequently to an airway obstruction necessitating a tracheotomy. After excision of the necrosis, the swelling of the tongue and the airway obstruction subsided.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the temporal connection between the occurrence of the necrosis and the administration of chemotherapy, an adverse effect of the administered drugs seems most likely. However, a paraneoplastic pathogenesis cannot be completely excluded. The occurrence of unilateral necrosis of the tongue is a rare complication of the above-mentioned conditions. However, it is important to be aware of the different causes leading to this rare disease in order to initiate the right therapy.