Severe Epididymo‐Orchitis and Encephalitis Complicating Anti‐PD‐1 Therapy

We describe herein a patient with metastatic melanoma who developed epididymo‐orchitis followed by encephalitis while receiving pembrolizumab. The patient developed testicular pain and fever after his third dose of pembrolizumab; ultrasound evaluation demonstrated bilateral epididymo‐orchitis. He then developed headaches, fever, and altered mental status over the next week and was admitted to the hospital. Lumbar puncture revealed inflammatory changes consistent with meningoencephalitis; he did not improve with broad‐spectrum antibiotics, and an extensive workup for infectious etiologies, including cerebrospinal fluid testing using a clinical metagenomic next‐generation sequencing assay, was negative. He received high‐dose steroids for suspected autoimmune encephalitis, and both his orchitis and meningoencephalitis improved rapidly after one dose. He fully recovered after a 5‐week taper of oral steroids.Discussion.Here, we report a case of epididymo‐orchitis complicating immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This patient subsequently developed severe encephalitis but rapidly improved with steroids. Clinicians should be aware of rare complications of these agents.Key Points. Epididymo‐orchitis is a rare and potentially life‐threatening complication of anti‐programmed death protein 1 (anti‐PD‐1) therapy.For patients on anti‐PD‐1 therapy who develop either epididymo‐orchitis or epididymitis without clear infectious cause, immune‐related adverse eve...
Source: The Oncologist - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies Immune ‐ Related Adverse Events Source Type: research