Magnesium Deficiency in a Patient on Chemotherapy-Radiotherapy Treatment for Cervical Cancer: Case Report and Review

Abstract

© 2017 Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología. Introduction: Magnesium deficiency is a common entity in cancer patients owing to cisplatin-containing chemotherapeutic schemes. Combination with radiotherapy in certain tumors where the gastrointestinal tract is part of the treatment field can elicit this entity. Clinical case: The case is presented of a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with uterine cervix cancer on treatment with concomitant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. Owing to the tumor extension and lymph node involvement, the radiation treatment field was broad, with important doses at the level of the small intestine. During treatment, the patient had important diarrhea due to magnesium deficit. Results: Testing for hypomagnesemia is not common in clinical practice, but it should be contemplated in patients on treatment with cisplatin-containing chemotherapeutic schemes and extended-field pelvic radiotherapy. Discussion: Knowing this entity and providing adequate treatment can prevent quality of life deterioration in affected subjects and possible early treatment discontinuation due to poor tolerance.