Tumor lysis syndrome associated with docetaxel and carboplatin in a case with recurrent endometrial cancer

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological life-threatening complication characterized by hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hyperkalemia, which can lead to acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest and seizures. Although TLS is a rare complication in patients with non-hematological malignancy, the mortality rate of TLS in solid tumors is higher than that in hematological malignancies. Acute renal injury is the most common cause of mortality associated with TLS in solid tumors. We report a case of TLS following chemotherapy for a recurrent uterine serous carcinoma. In this case, we speculated that the cause of death might be a pulmonary tumor embolism caused by TLS. •Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological life-threatening complication.•The mortality rate of TLS in solid tumors is high, acute renal injury being the most common cause.•We report a case of TLS following chemotherapy for a recurrent uterine serous carcinoma.•We speculated that the cause of death might be a pulmonary tumor embolism caused by TLS.•Clinicians need to assess the risk of TLS before chemotherapy, which should be given to high risk patient appropriately.