A Case of Septic-Shock-Induced Bacterial Translocation During Chemoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Combination therapy such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy is often used for head and neck cancer to maintain potency, but may trigger undesirable adverse effects.
A 60-year-old man suddenly developing shock and multiple organ failure during chemoradiotherapy for hypopharyngeal carcinoma required intensive treatment.
Bacterial translocation was thought to have caused shock. We discuss clinical features and the diagnostic process.