Lethal tetanus infection following cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer

Lethal tetanus infection following cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer

Authors

  • Wen-Cheng Liu Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Guo-Shiou Liao Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Jyh-Cherng Yu Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Ming-Shen Dai Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center No. 325, Section 2, Cheng-Gong Road, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Keywords:

Tetanus, Breast cancer, Pathological complete remission, Immunization

Abstract

Tetanus is rarely seen in developed countries where there is therefore less awareness in clinical practice. Necrotic breast tumors may provide a portal of entry for serious tetanus infection. We report on a patient who acquired devastating tetanus infection from necrotic tumor following cytotoxic chemotherapy; we also review similar cases in the literature. Clinical awareness, timely treatment, and proper tetanus vaccination before surgical excision, debridement, or cytotoxic chemotherapy might be necessary to prevent this catastrophe.

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Published

2015-09-21

Issue

European Journal of Oncology Vol.20, No 1 (2015)

Section

Case reports

License

OPEN ACCESS

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The articles in the previous edition of the Journal (European Journal of Oncology) are made available online with open access under the CC-BY Creative Commons attribution license (the current version is CC-BY, version 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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How to Cite

1.
Liu W-C, Liao G-S, Yu J-C, Dai M-S. Lethal tetanus infection following cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer. Eur J Oncol Env Hea [Internet]. 2015 Sep. 21 [cited 2025 Apr. 6];20(1):59-63. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/EJOEH/article/view/4020