Thiamine deficiency in oncology: Clinical insights from two cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Ahmet Burak Agaoglu, Ferhat Ekinci, Atike Pinar Erdogan et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
Two patients with cancer and significant malnutrition and weight loss developed neurological presentations consistent with Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE). The diagnosis was based on clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging. Both patients improved after immediate intravenous thiamine treatment, with supportive care also provided. The report highlights WE as a potentially reversible complication in oncology patients.
What made this case unusual
The cases draw attention to WE in patients with cancer, where malnutrition and weight loss may be overlooked as risk factors and the diagnosis may be under-recognised.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In a patient with cancer and substantial malnutrition or weight loss, consider WE when neurological deficits arise; clinical assessment and MRI supported diagnosis in these cases.
Why it matters
The reported neurological deficits responded to intravenous thiamine, underscoring the importance of timely recognition of a potentially reversible condition.