Mariko Kurokawa1, Ryo Kurokawa2, Akifumi Hagiwara3, Wataru Gonoi4, Shinjiro Harayama1, Koichi Koizumi5, Koji Yoshino6, Tsunekazu Hishima7, Akira Baba8, Yoshiaki Ota9, Osamu Abe4, Yasunobu Takaki1. 1. Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan. 2. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. rkurokawa-tky@umin.ac.jp. 3. Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 3-1-3 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan. 4. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan. 6. Department of Dermato Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan. 7. Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan. 8. Department of Radiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-19-18 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0003, Japan. 9. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Michigan Medicine, 1500E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors promote the antitumor activity of T cells; however, there is a risk of side effects. The aim of this study was to characterize the computed tomography (CT) findings of one such side effect, anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody-related enterocolitis (αPD-1-EC). METHODS: This single-institution retrospective study included 21 patients with αPD-1-EC who underwent CT between January 2015 and April 2020. Two board-certified radiologists independently evaluated the CT findings, including the pattern of intestinal wall enhancement, maximum bowel wall thickness, maximum appendiceal diameter, and involvement of enterocolitis in each intestinal segment. Symptoms and their severity were also investigated. RESULTS: Pancolitis and skip lesions involving both the rectosigmoid colon and the cecum were found in 9 patients each (42.9%). The rectum was the most frequently involved lesion (18/21, 85.7%), and appendiceal involvement was found in 11 patients (52.4%). The most frequent wall enhancement pattern was the gray pattern (i.e., mild homogeneous enhancement of the thickened bowel wall). The mean maximum diameter of the involved appendix was 9.6 ± 4.5 mm (range 4.5-18 mm). Frequent symptoms included diarrhea (21/21), fever (8/21), and abdominal pain (7/21). Other concomitant immune-related adverse events were found in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pancolitis, skip lesions, and appendiceal involvement were frequent in patients with αPD-1-EC. When combining these characteristic findings with other clinical findings, such as low-grade diarrhea, other concomitant immune-related adverse events, and anti-PD-1 therapy administration, CT may be a useful diagnostic tool for αPD-1-EC.
PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors promote the antitumor activity of T cells; however, there is a risk of side effects. The aim of this study was to characterize the computed tomography (CT) findings of one such side effect, anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody-related enterocolitis (αPD-1-EC). METHODS: This single-institution retrospective study included 21 patients with αPD-1-EC who underwent CT between January 2015 and April 2020. Two board-certified radiologists independently evaluated the CT findings, including the pattern of intestinal wall enhancement, maximum bowel wall thickness, maximum appendiceal diameter, and involvement of enterocolitis in each intestinal segment. Symptoms and their severity were also investigated. RESULTS: Pancolitis and skip lesions involving both the rectosigmoid colon and the cecum were found in 9 patients each (42.9%). The rectum was the most frequently involved lesion (18/21, 85.7%), and appendiceal involvement was found in 11 patients (52.4%). The most frequent wall enhancement pattern was the gray pattern (i.e., mild homogeneous enhancement of the thickened bowel wall). The mean maximum diameter of the involved appendix was 9.6 ± 4.5 mm (range 4.5-18 mm). Frequent symptoms included diarrhea (21/21), fever (8/21), and abdominal pain (7/21). Other concomitant immune-related adverse events were found in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pancolitis, skip lesions, and appendiceal involvement were frequent in patients with αPD-1-EC. When combining these characteristic findings with other clinical findings, such as low-grade diarrhea, other concomitant immune-related adverse events, and anti-PD-1 therapy administration, CT may be a useful diagnostic tool for αPD-1-EC.