Abstract
Crizotinib is an ALK inhibitor and used for treatment in advanced stages lung adenocarcinoma patients with ALK (+). Most common side effects are; gastrointestinal disorder and visual side effects. Drugs are one of the reasons of effusion. For accurate diagnosis patients’ drug history should be questioned in details. To the best of our knowledge pleural effusion due to crisotinib treatment does not exist in current literature. 41 years old female patient’s admitted to outpatient clinic with chest pain. There was a right hilar lesion and pleural effusion on right hemithorax (Figure 1A). Thorax tomography revealed 5 cm mass lesion in right middle lobe. Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy reported as adenocarcinoma. Tissue was positive for ALK-rearrangement and first line crizotinib initiated. In the third month of treatment bilateral pleural effusion more in the right was occurred (Figure 1B and 1C). Primary lesion was regressed (Figure 1D). Efusion on left hemithorax was serous and exudate. Any malignant cells were observed. It was drained with pleural catheter and performed talk pleuredesis. There were lymphocytic cell predominance. Others reasons were excluded. Crizotinib treatment was interrupted, in 15th day of crizotinib free observation fluid’s amount decreased. To increase the rate of recovery methylprednisolone 40 mg/day is added. Crizotinib started again with frequent clinical, radiological follow-up. Fluid’s amount did not increase when steroid dose was tapered. While patient take 16 mg/day crizotinib, it has been seen that left pleural fluid disappeared and right pleural thickening appeared due to talc pleuredesis (Figure 1E and 1F). To the best our knowledge there is not case report with pleural effusion related to ALK TKI treatment. Our case is the first to demonstrate the relationship between ALK TKI treatment and pleural effusion. The case which response to the treatment newly formed pleural effusion’s source may have thought as medication.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.