Cancer and cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment (formerly known as chemobrain or chemo-fog) are often described in the literature. In the past, studies have failed to prove the existence of cancer therapy-related cognitive dysfunction. However, more recently, prospective trials have shown that patients undergoing chemotherapy do display impairment in specific cognitive domains. Aging confers an increased risk of developing cancer, as well as cognitive impairment. The Geriatric Oncology clinic of the Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital in Montreal was founded in 2006 to address the unique needs of older cancer patients. We will describe two cases of cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment from our Geriatric Oncology clinic. The first case is that of a 75 year old male diagnosed with stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma who complained of forgetfulness since starting carboplatin-paclitaxel. The second case is that of a 65 year old female diagnosed with stage I, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer who had undergone lumpectomy followed by adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil chemotherapy, radiation therapy and was on exemestane when she was evaluated. We will also briefly review the literature of cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment.
Summary
Twenty-one patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and right ventricular involvement were studied by M-mode echocardiography. All 21 patients showed echocardiographic findings consisting of (i) increased right ventricular dimension, (ii) paradoxical septal motion, (iii) increased right ventricular outflow dimension (iv) thickening of the right ventricular anterior wall with increased right ventricular anterior wall motion, and (v) easily recordable tricuspid valve. In addition, some of the patients had posterior pericardial effusion, and fine fluttering of the tricuspid valve. EMF was diagnosed clinically in all the patients, haemodynamically and angiographically in 15 and confirmed at autopsy in one.
None of these echo findings was present in two patients with constrictive pericarditis, and two patients with massive ascites due to portal hypertension.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.