Carboplatin Toxicity

This patient, undergoing chemotherapy with carboplatin, developed these scattered nerve fiber layer infarcts (cotton wool spots).

Learning Points:
Carboplatin is an alkylating agent used to treat various cancers, including ovarian, lung, head and neck, brain, and neuroblastoma.

Retinal ischemia and optic neuropathies can rarely be found in patients taking both high-dose and cumulative-dose intravenous therapy.

The retinal ischemia can resolve with discontinuation of therapy, but those who experience optic neuropathies suffer irreversible loss.