Introduction: Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor has demonstrated a significant benefit on overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Many adverse effects of Bevacizumab are well-known. We report here the first case of diaphragmatic perforation after Bevacizumab treatment.
Patients and methods: A case of Bevacizumab induced diaphragmatic perforation was reported and a search of PubMed and Cochrane databases was performed in order to review relevant literature on the adverse effects of Bevacizumab.
Discussion: Serious late surgical complications may occur even if the delay between surgery and Bevacizumab treatment is respected. These complications may be life threatening for patients, and demonstrate the importance of careful monitoring after postoperative administration of Bevacizumab.
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