A Rare Case of Wernicke Encephalopathy in Stage IV Gastric Cancer

Division

Gulf Coast

Hospital

HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

2-20-2022

Keywords

wernicke encephalopathy, metabolic encephalopathy, confusion, malignancy, malnutrition

Disciplines

Digestive System Diseases | Internal Medicine | Neoplasms | Nervous System Diseases

Abstract

A 38-year-old male with stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma presented with abdominal pain, nausea, bilious non-bloody vomiting, and lethargy. He was found to have an ileus and was treated appropriately with bowel rest and nasogastric tube decompression. However, the patient was also noted to have confusion and nystagmus. While he was abstinent from alcohol for 20 years, he was found to have Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE) as a result of malnutrition from the underlying malignancy.

Publisher or Conference

Neurocase

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