European journal of cancer care
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jul 2007
Case ReportsBlue angioedema of eyelip after patent blue injection for lymphatic mapping procedure.
Sentinel node biopsy using patent blue dye in breast cancer is a well-documented procedure to assess the axillary status. We presented an unusual and previously unreported complication of simple blue angioedema over bilaterally periorbital tissue after blue dye injection.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jul 2007
Cancer chemotherapy and cachexia: mirtazapine and olanzapine are 5-HT3 antagonists with good antinausea effects.
Mirtazapine and olanzapine are easy-to-use psychiatric drugs with potent antinausea effects. Ondansetron and later members of the 'setron class are currently standard treatments for cancer chemotherapy-related nausea and emesis. They are potent 5-HT3 blockers, but it is often not appreciated that mirtazapine and olanzapine bind with similar affinity to 5-HT3 receptors, have a longer half-life, are considerably cheaper than the 'setron class, and often offer better and smoother 24-h nausea control than 'setron class drugs. ⋯ We suggest mirtazapine and olanzapine be included as first-line options in treating both chemotherapy- and advanced cancer-related nausea. Multiple clinical and economic advantages of mirtazapine and olanzapine over currently used 'setron class medicines are reviewed. Double-blind studies against the 'setron class drugs are warranted.