Case 286: Sarcoidlike Granulomatosis and Lymphadenopathy-Thoracic Manifestations of Nivolumab Drug Toxicity

Radiology. 2021 Feb;298(2):471-475. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021191247.

Abstract

History A 70-year-old man had a posterior left thigh lesion confirmed to be biopsy-proven melanoma. The patient underwent wide excision and sentinel node biopsy, which showed absence of residual melanoma. Two years later, the patient noticed a subcentimeter subcutaneous lump in his thigh. Repeat excisional biopsy showed involvement of the surrounding soft tissue, consistent with a satellite lesion. Follow-up combined PET/CT revealed satellite nodules around the primary lesion, enabling confirmation of subcutaneous metastatic disease. The patient was subsequently started on nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks PD-1 and is approved as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. On the baseline scan prior to starting nivolumab, there were no CT findings that suggested metastatic disease, nor were there enlarged mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes. Five months after initiation of nivolumab treatment, the first follow-up chest CT scan was performed and showed new findings in the mediastinum and bilateral lungs. The patient remained asymptomatic during the treatment period. Furthermore, the subcutaneous metastatic disease remained stable during the treatment period, and no other site of metastatic disease was noted on follow-up CT scans obtained during the first 5 months of treatment. The patient had no prior history of infectious or occupational exposures. During the nivolumab treatment cycle, his pertinent laboratory values and physical examination findings were unremarkable.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphadenopathy / chemically induced*
  • Male
  • Nivolumab / adverse effects*
  • Sarcoidosis / chemically induced*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Nivolumab