Background: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is rare in the treatment of solid tumors, but it may occur in myelolymphoproliferative diseases.
Methods: A 58-year-old man with bulky metastatic melanoma of the liver was treated with transcatheter arterial infusion of cisplatin and embolization therapy. The patient developed classic signs of TLS within 24 h of chemotherapy, including acute renal failure.
Results: The patient was treated with aggressive hydration, allopurinol, and repeated hemodialysis. He gradually improved and his biochemical markers returned to normal.
Conclusion: TLS is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening, complication in melanoma and other solid tumors. It is important for oncologists to recognize this complication and prevent its development if bulky metastatic disease and several pre-existing risk factors, such as multiple and bulky liver metastases, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and hyperuricemia, are present.