Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Recent advances in chemotherapy have increased the possibility of conversion hepatectomy for patients with initially unresectable liver metastases. Although long-term chemotherapy and subsequent extensive hepatectomy are becoming more common, the toxicities of such chemotherapies are unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a case report of a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer who developed severe encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and hyperammonaemia caused by 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Administration of vitamin B1 and continuous haemodiafiltration rapidly improved the patient's symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intensive treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil can induce rare adverse events.