Bilateral blindness with secondary retinitis pigmentosa following postoperative docetaxel and platinum combination chemotherapy in primary small-cell carcinoma of the endometrium: An unusual case report and review of the literature

Ocular toxicity is an uncommon complication of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Bilateral blindness with secondary retinitis pigmentosa (RP) following docetaxel and platinum combination chemotherapy at the recommended dose is extremely rare. The present study reports a case of advanced small-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the endometrium in a patient with diabetes mellitus type 2. The patient suffered from RP with a sharp decline in vision after the fourth course of postoperative docetaxel and platinum combination chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the patient developed bilateral blindness after another course of chemotherapy at a reduced dose. No tumor recurrence was observed during the 33 months of follow-up. A total of 35 cases of docetaxel- and/or platinum-induced retinal toxicity were found in the English literature and reviewed. The ischemic and electrophysiological hypotheses may have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ocular toxicity in the present case, particularly with the history of diabetes. Understanding the ocular side effects of this combination chemotherapy may assist gynecological oncologists and ophthalmologists with early recognition and timely intervention before blindness is established.