Testicular germ-cell carcinoma (TGCC) is
curable. Three-drug combination chemotherapy for
testicular tumors (BEP therapy: bleomycin, etoposide,
and cisplatin) is performed as standard treatment
following orchiectomy. A 21- year- old male had a hard
painless left testicular lump for two months.
Investigations revealed elevated levels of serum betaHCG and alpha-fetoprotein. Testicular tumor with left
para aortic lymph node involvement was diagnosed after
a CT scan. Left inguinal radical orchiectomy was
performed and histology revealed that mixed germ cell
tumor composed predominantly of yolk sac carcinoma
(50%) associated with seminoma (30%) and embryonic
carcinoma (20%). The oncologist decided to treat him
with four cycles of chemotherapy with BEP regime. He
was given the first chemotherapy. However, he was
found collapsed before completion of the second cycle of
chemotherapy in the ward bath room. Autopsy revealed
that total alopecia, hypo pigmented healed marks of
chickenpox and left inguinal scar with absence of the
testis. Serial dissection of left common trunk and
anterior descending branch of coronary arteries
revealed a thrombus completely occluding the lumen.
Yellowish necrotic area with intermittent fresh
hemorrhages were found in the anterior and posterolateral walls of left ventricle. There were no risk factors
or family history for premature coronary events. End of
the autopsy, the cause of death was given as acute
myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombus in a
subject with chemotherapy for testicular carcinoma.
This case strengthens the previous studies of induction of
Virchow’s triad and early formation of thrombus with
myocardial events during the chemotherapy for
testicular carcinoma. This case report reiterates the
importance of cardiac assessment prior to chemotherapy
to avoid unnecessary litigation cases
Keywords : Chemotherapy, BEP, Myocardial Infarction, Testicular Cancer, Thromboembolism, Medical Negligence, Forensic Pathologist