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Vascular stenosis in a child with visual pathway glioma treated with bevacizumab: a case report and review of literature

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Abstract

Background

Bevacizumab (BVZ) is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor that has been widely accepted since its introduction into the cancer pharmacopoeia. Anecdotal reports suggested improvements in vision in children with visual pathway glioma.

Case presentation

We report a boy with visual pathway glioma whose vision had deteriorated significantly on vincristine and carboplatin, to the point that he was registered blind. Following bevacizumab therapy, there was a dramatic improvement in vision with reduction in tumour volume. However, following 20 doses of BVZ given over 19 months, he developed a significant cerebrovascular stenosis.

Conclusion

The BVZ-induced cerebrovascular diseases in children are extremely rare but potentially serious. Importantly, stenosis has not been previously described in literature.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to East Midlands Children and Young People’s Integrated Cancer Service (EMCYPICS) and Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.

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Author notes

  1. Chiara Pilotto and Ismail Beshlawi contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Chiara Pilotto, Ismail Beshlawi & Richard G. Grundy

  2. Department of Sperimental and Clinical Medical Science, DISM, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Chiara Pilotto

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK

    Adam Thomas

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  1. Chiara Pilotto
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  2. Ismail Beshlawi
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  3. Adam Thomas
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  4. Richard G. Grundy
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Correspondence to Chiara Pilotto.

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All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Pilotto, C., Beshlawi, I., Thomas, A. et al. Vascular stenosis in a child with visual pathway glioma treated with bevacizumab: a case report and review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst 34, 781–785 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-017-3676-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-017-3676-7

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