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. 2018 Sep 8;5(1):20180054.
doi: 10.1259/bjrcr.20180054. eCollection 2019 Feb.

A case of aortitis during cisplatin-based chemotherapy for cervical cancer

Katharine Webb  1 , Vineet Prakash  1 , Othman Kirresh  1 , Alexandra Stewart
Affiliations

A case of aortitis during cisplatin-based chemotherapy for cervical cancer

Katharine Webb et al. BJR Case Rep. .

Abstract

A case of aortitis in a patient undergoing adjuvant cisplatin and topotecan chemotherapy for cervical cancer following presentation with pyrexia of unknown origin and raised inflammatory markers is presented. Although many chemotherapy agents are known to cause small vessel vasculitis and there are several reported cases of large vessel vasculitis following gemcitabine chemotherapy, there is only one previously described case of aortitis following cisplatin administration. This case is presented with corresponding CT and 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging with discussion of the literature regarding vasculitis and chemotherapy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Axial CT with i.v. contrast. Abnormal circumferential mural thickening is seen in the descending thoracic aorta (red arrow). Also, a small left pleural effusion is noted.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Axial CT with i.v. contrast. Abnormal circumferential mural thickening is seen in the aortic arch (red arrow).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Fused axial 18F-FDG PET-CT shows increased FDG avidity in the aortic wall corresponding to the mural thickening (red arrow). FDG, fludeoxyglucose.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Fused axial 18F-FDG PET-CT shows increased FDG avidity in the aortic wall corresponding to the mural thickening (red arrow). FDG, fludeoxyglucose.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
(Left image) MIP sagittal 18F-FDG PET-CT shows increased FDG avidity in the aortic wall corresponding to the mural thickening. (Right image) Post therapy MIP Sagittal 18F-FDG PET-CT shows complete resolution of the abnormal metabolic activity in keeping with a metabolic response. MIP, maximum intensity projection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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