Radiation recall dermatitis after treatment of stage IV breast cancer with nivolumab: a case report

Immunotherapy. 2020 Feb;12(2):123-130. doi: 10.2217/imt-2019-0020. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Abstract

Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) is an uncommon dermatologic reaction provoked notably by chemotherapy in an area of skin irradiated weeks to years prior. We report a case of RRD with nivolumab in a woman with breast cancer. The patient was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast with an isolated spinal metastasis approached in an oligometastatic fashion with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. Unfortunately, after progression of bony metastases treated with radiotherapy, the patient received nivolumab and subsequently developed a rash corresponding to the adjuvant radiation field. This case highlights the unpredictable nature and characteristic rash of RRD. It is an important differential diagnosis for multidisciplinary teams who also see chemotherapy-induced dermatitis and immune-related adverse events.

Keywords: adverse effects; dermatitis; immunotherapy; nivolumab; radiation recall; radiation recall dermatitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / complications
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / radiotherapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use*
  • Radiodermatitis / complications
  • Radiodermatitis / etiology*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Nivolumab