Immunochemotherapy Disrupts Peripherally Located Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Resulting in Pleuritis: A Report of Two Cases, Case Report

Abstract

Immunochemotherapy is widely used as the primary treatment for advanced lung cancer and is currently being investigated in the perioperative setting. Immunochemotherapy can produce marked tumor shrinkage and long-term anticancer effects that are not achieved with conventional anticancer drugs. Herein, we present the cases of two patients with relatively large advanced primary lung squamous cell carcinomas located just below the pleura, who developed pleuritis immediately after the initiation of immunochemotherapy, probably owing to leakage of tumor contents after marked tumor shrinkage. Treatment of pleuritis necessitates discontinuation of chemotherapy, and special attention to secondary pleuritis may be required after initiation of immunochemotherapy in patients with lung tumors located just below the pleura.

Keywords

• Lung squamous cell carcinoma
• Immune-chemotherapy
• Pleuritis
• Adverse event
• Case report