Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as nivolumab have revolutionized cancer therapy, including melanoma. Immune-related events happen in up to 70% of patients. Sarcoid-like reactions are rare and can mimic tumor progression. An 82-year-old man with metastatic melanoma receiving nivolumab for 5...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American College of Physicians
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases |
| Online Access: | https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0851 |
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| author | Hoang Tran Pham Ravindra Gudavalli Archan M. Shah An Ho |
| author_facet | Hoang Tran Pham Ravindra Gudavalli Archan M. Shah An Ho |
| author_sort | Hoang Tran Pham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as nivolumab have revolutionized cancer therapy, including melanoma. Immune-related events happen in up to 70% of patients. Sarcoid-like reactions are rare and can mimic tumor progression. An 82-year-old man with metastatic melanoma receiving nivolumab for 5 years presented with dyspnea and neck and face swelling. A computed tomography scan of the chest showed paratracheal adenopathy compressing the superior vena cava (SVC) and pleural effusion. Biopsies revealed only benign lymphocytes. The symptoms resolved with a course of prednisone. This case highlights rare nivolumab-induced lymphoid proliferation causing SVC syndrome. New SVC syndrome symptoms should prompt evaluation to distinguish between cancer progression, infection, and drug-induced lymphadenopathy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-070145bfad2a41768d6dea45bb86121c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2767-7664 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | American College of Physicians |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases |
| spelling | doaj-art-070145bfad2a41768d6dea45bb86121c2025-08-20T02:27:29ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642025-02-014210.7326/aimcc.2024.0851Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case ReportHoang Tran Pham0Ravindra Gudavalli1Archan M. Shah2An Ho31Department of Internal Medicine, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois2Interventional Pulmonology, Division of OncoMedicine, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona2Interventional Pulmonology, Division of OncoMedicine, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona2Interventional Pulmonology, Division of OncoMedicine, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, ArizonaImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as nivolumab have revolutionized cancer therapy, including melanoma. Immune-related events happen in up to 70% of patients. Sarcoid-like reactions are rare and can mimic tumor progression. An 82-year-old man with metastatic melanoma receiving nivolumab for 5 years presented with dyspnea and neck and face swelling. A computed tomography scan of the chest showed paratracheal adenopathy compressing the superior vena cava (SVC) and pleural effusion. Biopsies revealed only benign lymphocytes. The symptoms resolved with a course of prednisone. This case highlights rare nivolumab-induced lymphoid proliferation causing SVC syndrome. New SVC syndrome symptoms should prompt evaluation to distinguish between cancer progression, infection, and drug-induced lymphadenopathy.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0851 |
| spellingShingle | Hoang Tran Pham Ravindra Gudavalli Archan M. Shah An Ho Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases |
| title | Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report |
| title_full | Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report |
| title_short | Severe Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab: A Case Report |
| title_sort | severe superior vena cava syndrome in a patient with metastatic melanoma receiving nivolumab a case report |
| url | https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0851 |
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