RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patient With COVID-19 Infection After Immunotherapy: A Case Report and Literature Review
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 3753
OP 3756
DO 10.21873/invivo.12225
VO 34
IS 6
A1 MENGLAN ZHAI
A1 SHENG ZHANG
YR 2020
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/6/3753.abstract
AB Background/Aim: Novel coronavirus infection in a cancer patient treated with immunotherapy, requires high attention. Case Report: Clinical and radiological data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Pharynx swab was tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient developed fever on the third day after chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Laboratory examination showed lymphocytopenia. On the sixth day, chest computed tomography (CT) images showed bilateral scattered ground-glass opacities and reticulation. Pharynx swab was positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and the patient was confirmed as having Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Unfortunately, despite aggressive treatment after the diagnosis of COVID-19, the patient died quickly. Conclusion: The patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in this case developed severe COVID-19 after receiving immunotherapy. For patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in epidemic areas, the safety of ICIs in cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be considered.