Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Oncology Letters
      • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • Information for Authors
    • Information for Reviewers
    • Information for Librarians
    • Information for Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • For Authors
    • For Reviewers
    • For Librarians
    • For Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Login Register Submit
  • This site uses cookies
  • You can change your cookie settings at any time by following the instructions in our Cookie Policy. To find out more, you may read our Privacy Policy.

    I agree
Search articles by DOI, keyword, author or affiliation
Search
Advanced Search
presentation
Oncology Letters
Join Editorial Board Propose a Special Issue
Print ISSN: 1792-1074 Online ISSN: 1792-1082
Journal Cover
April-2025 Volume 29 Issue 4

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

Journal Cover
April-2025 Volume 29 Issue 4

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

  • Article
  • Citations
    • Cite This Article
    • Download Citation
    • Create Citation Alert
    • Remove Citation Alert
    • Cited By
  • Similar Articles
    • Related Articles (in Spandidos Publications)
    • Similar Articles (Google Scholar)
    • Similar Articles (PubMed)
  • Download PDF
  • Download XML
  • View XML
Article Open Access

Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review

  • Authors:
    • He Zhang
    • Yong-Ming Zhou
    • Shao-Li Wang
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, P.R. China
    Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 186
    |
    Published online on: February 13, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14932
  • Expand metrics +
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

This article is mentioned in:



Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute or subacute neuropsychiatric condition associated with thiamine deficiency that is more often seen in cases of alcohol abuse. The current study presents a rare case of primary cervical cancer complicated by WE. A 44‑year‑old woman who underwent a laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with endoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for primary cervical adenocarcinoma in 2014 developed multiple metastases in the pelvic and abdominal cavities, right iliopsoas muscle and iliac wing 2 years post‑surgery. The patient was hospitalized due to the rupture of a mass in the right lower abdomen in August 2019. A computed tomography scan demonstrated the spreading of primary cervical cancer to the right lower abdomen, which broke through the skin. In this terminal stage of cervical cancer accompanied with malnutrition, the patient suddenly presented with cognitive impairment, particularly in recent and immediate memory, as well as bilateral sustained nystagmus during hospitalization. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintensity in the periaqueductal midbrain on T2 fluid‑attenuated inversion recovery imaging. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of WE was made, and thiamine (100 mg) was immediately administered intramuscularly three times a day. After a week, the patient's eye movement disorder and recent memory improved gradually. The present case report with literature review aims to demonstrate the significant comorbidity between cancer and WE, raising awareness about the importance of recognizing the risk of thiamine deficiency in advanced cancer to prevent the development of WE.
View Figures

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

View References

1 

Mrowicka M, Mrowicki J, Dragan G and Majsterek I: The importance of thiamine (vitamin B1) in humans. Biosci Rep. 43:BSR202303742023. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

2 

Soto-Martin EC, Warnke I, Farquharson FM, Christodoulou M, Horgan G, Derrien M, Faurie JM, Flint HJ, Duncan SH and Louis P: Vitamin biosynthesis by human gut butyrate-producing bacteria and cross-feeding in synthetic microbial communities. mBio. 11:e00886–20. 2020. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

3 

Cobilinschi C, Andrei CA, Grinţescu IM and Mirea L: Metabolic failure due to thiamine deficiency during critical illness. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 27:155–162. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

4 

Hutcheon DA: Malnutrition-induced Wernicke's encephalopathy following a water-only fasting diet. Nutr Clin Pract. 30:92–99. 2015. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

5 

Yasu T, Iimura Y, Momo K and Kuroda S: Potential thiamine deficiency in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 58:174–176. 2020. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

6 

Sechi G and Serra A: Wernicke's encephalopathy: New clinical settings and recent advances in diagnosis and management. Lancet Neurol. 6:442–455. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

7 

Galvin R, Bråthen G, Ivashynka A, Hillbom M, Tanasescu R and Leone MA; EFNS: EFNS guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of Wernicke encephalopathy. Eur J Neurol. 17:1408–1418. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

8 

Ota Y, Capizzano AA, Moritani T, Naganawa S, Kurokawa R and Srinivasan A: Comprehensive review of Wernicke encephalopathy: Pathophysiology, clinical symptoms and imaging findings. Jpn J Radiol. 38:809–820. 2020. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

9 

Edge SB and Compton CC: The American Joint Committee on Cancer: The 7th edition of the AJCC cancer staging manual and the future of TNM. Ann Surg Oncol. 17:1471–1474. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

10 

Stratton RJ, Hackston A, Longmore D, Dixon R, Price S, Stroud M, King C and Elia M: Malnutrition in hospital outpatients and inpatients: Prevalence, concurrent validity and ease of use of the ‘malnutrition universal screening tool’ (‘MUST’) for adults. Br J Nutr. 92:799–808. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

11 

Aiello EN, Pasotti F, Appollonio I and Bolognini N: Equating mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores: Conversion norms from a healthy Italian population sample. Aging Clin Exp Res. 34:1721–1724. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

12 

Roheger M, Xu H, Hoang MT, Eriksdotter M and Garcia-Ptacek S: Conversion between the mini-mental state examination and the montreal cognitive assessment for patients with different forms of dementia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 23:1986–1989.e1. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

13 

Thomson AD, Guerrini I and Marshall EJ: Wernicke's encephalopathy: Role of thiamine. Pract Gastroenterol. 33:21–30. 2009.

14 

Huskisson E, Maggini S and Ruf M: The influence of micronutrients on cognitive function and performance. J Int Med Res. 35:1–19. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

15 

Baltrusch S: The Role of Neurotropic B Vitamins in Nerve Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2021.9968228. 2021. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

16 

Kril JJ: Neuropathology of thiamine deficiency disorders. Metab Brain Dis. 11:9–17. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

17 

Butterworth RF: Thiamin deficiency and brain disorders. Nutr Res Rev. 16:277–284. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

18 

Zhang Y, Wang L, Jiang J and Chen WY: Non-alcoholic Wernicke encephalopathy in an esophageal cancer patient receiving radiotherapy: A case report. World J Clin Cases. 10:5810–5815. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

19 

Nikjoo A, Rashid H, Chung R and Sadat MA: A rare case of Wernicke encephalopathy in stage IV gastric cancer. Neurocase. 28:123–125. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

20 

Lin Q, Li G, Wang Z and Zhang Y: Case Report: Wernicke's encephalopathy after gastric surgery presenting as lactic acidosis and refractory thrombocytopenia. Front Surg. 10:10163472023. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

21 

Gross A, Yu AT, Lara-Reyna J, Park K and Harvey EJ: Duodenal adenocarcinoma in the setting of bariatric surgery: A perfect storm for Wernicke's encephalopathy. Cureus. 15:e337652023.PubMed/NCBI

22 

Koca O, Demir B, Derin S and Turna ZH: A case report of Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome in a patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma: An underestimated cause of encephalopathy in cancer patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 101:e319042022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

23 

Ibnawadh AK, Alashgar HI, Peedikayil M and Amin T: Pancreatic cancer presenting with acute pancreatitis complicated by Wernicke's encephalopathy and a colonic fistula: A case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 85:574–578. 2023. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

24 

Slim S, Ayed K, Triki W, Baccar A, Baraket O, Rahal K, Ganzoui I and Bouchoucha S: Gayet-Wernicke's encephalopathy complicating prolonged parenteral nutrition in patient treated for colonic cancer-a case report. BMC Nutr. 8:832022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

25 

Brown S and Hutt-Williams S: Wernicke's encephalopathy in advanced cancer. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 12:460–462. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

26 

Azapagasi E, Kunt Baykal N, Kirkiz Kayali S, Salimli Mirzayeva L, Topuz Türkcan B, Uysal Yazici M, Serdaroğlu E and Kaya Z: Severe lactic acidosis, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and wet beriberi due to thiamine deficiency in a child with leukemia. Klin Padiatr. 236:193–196. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

27 

Feng Y, Long X and Li X: Wernicke encephalopathy with extensive cortical lesions combined with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 43:361–365. 2022.PubMed/NCBI

28 

Malik S, White W and Dasanu CA: Unusual encephalopathy with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome-like features due to adjuvant nivolumab for malignant melanoma. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 30:408–411. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

29 

Harper CG, Giles M and Finlay-Jones R: Clinical signs in the Wernicke-Korsakoff complex: A retrospective analysis of 131 cases diagnosed at necropsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 49:341–345. 1986. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

30 

Nardone R, Höller Y, Storti M, Christova M, Tezzon F, Golaszewski S, Trinka E and Brigo F: Thiamine deficiency induced neurochemical, neuroanatomical, and neuropsychological alterations:a reappraisal. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013:3091432013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

31 

Donnino MW, Vega J, Miller J and Walsh M: Myths and misconceptions of Wernicke's Encephalopathy: What every emergency physician should know. Ann Emerg Med. 50:715–721. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

32 

Thomson AD, Cook CC, Touquet R and Henry JA; Royal College of Physicians, : London: The Royal College of Physicians report on alcohol: Guidelines for managing Wernicke's encephalopathy in the accident and emergency department. Alcohol Alcohol. 37:513–521. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

33 

Cantu-Weinstein A, Branning R, Alamir M, Weleff J, Do M, Nero N and Anand A: Diagnosis and treatment of Wernicke's encephalopathy: A systematic literature review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 87:48–59. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

34 

Dingwall KM, Delima JF, Binks P, Batey R and Bowden SC: What is the optimum thiamine dose to treat or prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? Results of a randomized controlled trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 46:1133–1147. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

35 

Stephen JM, Grant R and Yeh CS: Anaphylaxis from administration of intravenous thiamine. Am J Emerg Med. 10:61–63. 1992. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

36 

Tjugum SL, Hedrick TL, Jean SJ, Heeney SA, Rohde KA and Campbell-Bright SL: Evaluation of the safety of intravenous thiamine administration in a large academic medical center. J Pharm Pract. 34:397–402. 2021. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

37 

Ott M and Werneke U: Wernicke's encephalopathy - from basic science to clinical practice. Part 1: Understanding the role of thiamine. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 10:20451253209781062020. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

38 

Dyckner T, Ek B, Nyhlin H and Wester PO: Aggravation of thiamine deficiency by magnesium depletion. A case report. Acta Med Scand. 218:129–131. 1985. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

39 

Victor M, Adams RD and Collins GH: The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. A clinical and pathological study of 245 patients, 82 with post-mortem examinations. Contemp Neurol Ser. 7:1–206. 1971.PubMed/NCBI

Related Articles

  • Abstract
  • View
  • Download
  • Twitter
Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang H, Zhou Y and Wang S: Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review. Oncol Lett 29: 186, 2025.
APA
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., & Wang, S. (2025). Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review. Oncology Letters, 29, 186. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14932
MLA
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., Wang, S."Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 29.4 (2025): 186.
Chicago
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., Wang, S."Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 29, no. 4 (2025): 186. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14932
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang H, Zhou Y and Wang S: Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review. Oncol Lett 29: 186, 2025.
APA
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., & Wang, S. (2025). Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review. Oncology Letters, 29, 186. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14932
MLA
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., Wang, S."Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 29.4 (2025): 186.
Chicago
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., Wang, S."Wernicke's encephalopathy in a terminally ill patient with primary cervical cancer: A case report and literature review". Oncology Letters 29, no. 4 (2025): 186. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14932
Follow us
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
About
  • Spandidos Publications
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
How can we help?
  • Help
  • Live Chat
  • Contact
  • Email to our Support Team