Poisonings with heavy metals and neoplasms - possible correlations

Abstract

As a side effect of industrialization, some diseases have developed only recently, becoming a challenge for the medical specialists both in research and medical treatment fields. Among these, the poisoning with heavy metals occupies a certain category that must retain attention, due to since the effects of this kind of poisoning are very serious effects if these injuries poisonings are not properly recognized and treated. Most common heavy metals that are involved in poisonings are Mercury, Cadmium, Lead and Arsenic. They are capable of inducing a wide range of pathologies, including neoplasms with cerebral localization. In order to illustrate the link between the poisonings with heavy metals and neoplasms, we present a case of a 19 years old patient, who was diagnosed both with germinoma, which is a malignant tumor of the median brain structures, and mercury poisoning. Since germinoma and mercury poisoning are rare conditions, it is very hard to obtain enough data for a statistically significant study. However, the case study which encompasses the poisoning with heavy metals and germinoma supports the idea of performing proper screenings in the event of individuals being diagnosed with mercury poisoning, especially when they can turn out to be potentially treatable.