Immune-related colitis following head and neck reconstructive surgery in a patient receiving long-term nivolumab.
Tatsuya Ito, Kohtaro Eguchi, Mitsuhiko Katoh et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A man with gastric cancer, receiving long-term nivolumab and prednisolone for immune-related myositis, underwent subtotal glossectomy for advanced tongue cancer. On postoperative day 4, he developed grade 3 diarrhoea. After ruling out infections and identifying diffuse colitis via CT, he was treated with corticosteroids, leading to rapid symptom resolution. Colonoscopy confirmed immune-related colitis.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider immune-related colitis in the differential diagnosis of postoperative diarrhoea in patients with a history of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Why it matters
As the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in perioperative settings increases, awareness of potential immune-related adverse events is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.