International journal of tissue reactions
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Cisplatin is a very effective antineoplastic drug. To date its major toxic dose-limiting effect is peripheral neuropathy. ⋯ Although the most striking pathological alterations were observed in the spinal ganglia neurons, initial axonal neuropathy was also demonstrated, whereas the spinal cord neurons were completely normal. Our findings further support the hypotheses that spinal ganglion neurons are the primary target of cisplatin peripheral neurotoxicity and that peripheral nerve damage is secondary to this neuronopathy.