Kuge S, Tokuda Y, Ohta M, Okumura A, Kubota M, Ninomiya S, Sawamura S, Makuuchi H, Tajima T, Mitomi T, et al.
Japanese journal of clinical oncology. Date of publication 1996 Aug 1;volume 26(4):207-10.
1. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 1996 Aug;26(4):207-10.
Use of metronidazole gel to control malodor in advanced and recurrent breast
cancer.
Kuge S(1), Tokuda Y, Ohta M, Okumura A, Kubota M, Ninomiya S, Sawamura S,
Makuuchi H, Tajima T, Mitomi T.
Author information:
(1)Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Intolerable malodor emanating from ulcerated tumors as a result of anaerobic
infection is a serious problem in the management of advanced and recurrent breast
cancer. Metronidazole can control this malodor, but its oral use may cause
adverse reactions. We therefore formulated a metronidazole gel, since no
equivalent preparation is commercially available in Japan, and used it in five
female patients (four with advanced cancer and one with recurrent cancer)
admitted to our hospital between March 1994 and July 1995. The patients were aged
between 47 and 71 (median: 59) years, and the duration of morbidity in the four
patients with advanced cancer ranged from 10 months to four years. In three
patients, the tumors were larger than 10 cm x 10 cm. Metronidazole gel was
applied to the surface of ulcerated tumors once or twice daily. Independent
assessments by the patient, doctor and nurse were unanimous, and revealed that
the malodor was alleviated in one patient after three days, and removed in four
patients after two to five (median: four) days of metronidazole gel treatment.
Culture of swabs showed a decrease or disappearance of anaerobic colonies.
Adverse reactions characteristic of metronidazole did not occur. The topical use
of metronidazole in a gel form will improve the quality of life for patients with
malodorous ulcerated tumors and facilitate intensive treatment of the underlying
disease.
PMID: 8765176 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
