[Perforation of the nasal septum: a rare complication of bevacizumab].

INTRODUCTION: Neovascularisation is a hallmark of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is directly involved in the regulation of this tumoural neoangiogenesis, especially in lung cancer. Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF that is commonly used in thoracic oncology. Among the side effects, perforation of the nasal septum is rare.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe, immediately metastatic, treated with five cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin, gemcitabine, bevacizumab). She developed a perforation of the nasal septum after the third injection of bevacizumab given as monotherapy during the maintenance phase.

CONCLUSIONS: This is, to our knowledge, the first description of this complication in the course of treatment of bronchial carcinoma. Its management is purely symptomatic. The action to be taken in using bevacizumab is not fully codified.