Pulmonary side effects of nivolumab in a patient treated for gynecological malignancy

Abstract

We report a case of a 26-year-old female patient treated with nivolumab for peritoneal implants from small-cell ovarian cancer. Pulmonary changes were depicted on follow-up examinations, namely, consolidations and scattered ground glass opacities, without any remarkable pulmonary complaints or laboratory changes. Both infectious and progressive diseases were ruled out. The condition was attributed to nivolumab side effect, and total remission was documented, followed by corticosteroids administration. We present clinical details and imaging findings, followed by a discussion where pulmonary toxicity can often be mistaken with infection or secondary involvement. Keywords: Cancer, Immunotherapy, Pulmonary toxicity