Bilateral irreversible hearing loss associated with the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy: a unusual side effect

The regimen with paclitaxel and platinum compound (carboplatin or cisplatin) is the standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Ototoxity for carboplatin and paclitaxel alone or combined is rarely observed. We report the case of a 35-year old female with advanced ovarian cancer who developed sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss related to paclitaxel and carboplatin based chemotherapy. This uncommon adverse effect of carboplatin and paclitaxel alone or combined is discussed and the literature reviewed. Hearing monitoring should be mandatory to evaluate the real incidence of clinical and sub-clinical hearing modification induced by carboplatin and paclitaxel based chemotherapy.