Fatal Diffuse Alveolar Damage Associated with Oxaliplatin Administration

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens are currently a standard of care for the treatment of colorectal cancer in both the adjuvant and metastatic disease settings. Significant improvements in survival have resulted from the use of oxaliplatin-based combinations. This article describes the use of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in a patient with stage III colon cancer who developed fatal diffuse alveolar damage during his adjuvant therapy. Other cases of pulmonary toxicity associated with oxaliplatin use are presented and the proposed pathophysiology of this rare occurrence is discussed.