DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION IN A PATIENT WITH METASTATIC PROSTATE-CANCER - FATAL OUTCOME FOLLOWING SR-89 THERAPY

A patient with metastatic prostate cancer was found to have low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). He had significant bone pain despite external-beam radiotherapy and was given Sr-89 With subse quent thrombocytopenia and epistaxis. The patient died from generalize d hemorrhage 36 days postinjection. Although it is not possible to est ablish a causal relationship between the Sr-89 and DIC, practitioners should be alert to complications associated with the primary disorder which might occur at a time to raise concern about the intervention.