Chemotherapy-induced parkinsonism responsive to levodopa: An underrecognized entity

✍ Scribed by Cathy Chuang; Anne Constantino; Casilda Balmaceda; David Eidelberg; Steven J. Frucht

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 59 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-3185
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.10344

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Parkinsonism is a rare neurological complication of cancer treatment. Although individual case reports of this syndrome have been reported, the clinical features and prevalence of this syndrome are unknown. We present 3 patients, encountered over 6 months at one institution, who developed parkinsonism after treatment with various chemotherapeutic agents. Parkinsonism was severe in 2 patients, affecting postural reflexes, speech, and swallowing. All 3 patients responded dramatically to treatment with levodopa, and parkinsonism spontaneously improved or remitted over months. This unusual complication of cancer therapy is treatable and may be underappreciated. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society