Reversible Central Nervous System Dysfunction Due to Tamoxifen in a Patient with Breast Cancer
Authors: JERRY L. PLUSS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Brief Reports1 November 1984Reversible Central Nervous System Dysfunction Due to Tamoxifen in a Patient with Breast CancerJERRY L. PLUSS, D.O., NICHOLAS J. DiBELLA, M.D.JERRY L. PLUSS, D.O., NICHOLAS J. DiBELLA, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-101-5-652 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTamoxifen is a nonsteroidal antiestrogen currently used primarily in the treatment of patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer (1). Its major advantage over other hormonal agents is its lack of severe side effects. In fact, a recent summary of clinical trials reported that fewer than 3% of 2232 patients had serious side effects that necessitated withdrawal of tamoxifen therapy (2). Central nervous system events are rarely seen and include depression, headache, tremors, confusion, irritability, dizziness, and light-headedness (2-5). One patient has also had encephalopathy with obtundation and pseudobulbar palsy; however, this complication could have resulted from concomitant hypercalcemia (6). We report...References1. PEARSONMANNIARAFAH OAB. Antiestrogen treatment of breast cancer: an overview. Cancer Res. 1982;42(8 suppl):3424S-9S. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. PATTERSONBUTTERSBY SL. Tamoxifen: clinical pharmacology, safety and clinical development. In: Clinical Applications in Oncology: Chemotherapeutic Effects of Nolvadex® Tamoxifen Citrate: Highlights of a Symposium. Custom Communications-Postgraduate Medicine, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company; 1981. Google Scholar3. PANNUTIMARTONIFRUETMARRAROSTROCCHI FAFDE. New regimen of combination hormone therapy (ME-TA-MAP) in the treatment of advanced breast cancer: a pilot study. Panminerva Med. 1981;23:157-60. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. TRODELLAAUSILLI-CEFAROTURRIZIANISACCHERIVENTUROMINOTTI LGASIG. Combination therapy with progestins and tamoxifen in advanced breast cancer: a preliminary report. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982;5:495-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. PATTERSONBAUM JM. Safety of tamoxifen [Letter]. Lancet. 1978;1:105. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. KORIMARSHALL SJ. Tamoxifen-induced encephalopathy. Neurology (NY). 1982;32:A72-3. Google Scholar7. SAWICKADAWSONBLUM JDR. Neurologic aspects of the treatment of cancer. In: TYLOR HR, DAWSON DM, eds. Current Neurology. Vol. 1. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Professional Publishers; 1978. Google Scholar8. ADAMS K. What we know and don't know about the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. In: Clinical Applications in Oncology: Chemotherapeutic Effects of Nolvadex® Tamoxifen Citrate: Highlights of a Symposium. Custom Communications-Postgraduate Medicine, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company; 1981. Google Scholar9. FABIANSTERNSONBARNETT CLM. Clinical pharmacology of tamoxifen in patients with breast cancer: comparison of traditional and loading dose schedules. Cancer Treat Rep. 1980;64:765-73. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Aurora, Colorado PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByNeurologic ComplicationsTamoxifen treatment and occurrence of dural arteriovenous fistulas: An observational study on a series of patients presenting tamoxifen history and diagnosis of DAVfNeurologic ComplicationsNeurologic ComplicationsTamoxifen fails to affect central serotonergic tone but increases indices of anxiety in female rhesus macaquesA soy supplement and tamoxifen inhibit sexual behavior in female ratsImmediate and residual effects of tamoxifen and ethynylestradiol in the female rat hypothalamusCentral Nervous System Complications of Cancer TherapyQuality of Life and Tamoxifen in a Breast Cancer Prevention TrialCognitive Function and Reproductive Hormones in Adjuvant Therapy for Breast CancerThe Relationship Between Tamoxifen, Estrogen, and Depressive SymptomsHealth-Related Quality of Life and Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer Prevention: A Report From the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project P-1 StudyNeurologic Complications of ChemotherapyAcute Encephalopathy and SeizuresReferencesSex hormones and related compounds including oral contraceptivesNeurologic Complications of Chemotherapy 1 November 1984Volume 101, Issue 5Page: 652-652KeywordsBreast cancerCancer treatmentCentral nervous systemClinical trial reportingCurrent procedural terminologyHeadachesHypercalcemiaParalysisPatientsPulmonary diseases Issue Published: 1 November 1984 PDF DownloadLoading ...