Capecitabine-Induced Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report

Capecitabine, an antineoplastic agent, is an orally active fluorinated pyrimidine that is metabolized to the active form, fluorouracil (FU), by the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase. Neurologic complications secondary to capecitabine are uncommon, especially leukoencephalopathy, which develops shortly after starting treatment, is quite rare. This report details a young man who developed this complication after receiving just the first cycle, and discontinuation of the causative agent led to clinical and radiological improvement.