Unforeseen complications of pembrolizumab in breast reconstruction post-mastectomy
  • Murad Aldarayseh
    Internal Medicine Department, RWJ Barnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, USA
  • Sohail Singh Sodhi
    Internal Medicine Department, RWJ Barnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, USA
  • Gamal Musleh
    Internal Medicine Department, RWJ Barnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, USA
  • Dyuti Kumar
    St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
  • Michelle Cholankeril
    Internal Medicine Department, RWJ Barnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, USA

Keywords

Pembrolizumab, breast reconstruction, breast cancer

Abstract

A 53-year-old post-menopausal Indian female presented with invasive ductal carcinoma, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab due to a PD-L1 combined positive score of 5. Following a right mastectomy and axillary dissection, she received a breast expander and AlloDerm™ graft. After resuming pembrolizumab and paclitaxel postoperatively, she developed severe breast redness and high-grade fever, necessitating expander removal due to suspected pembrolizumab-induced complications. This case underscores the unique and severe adverse effects of pembrolizumab on breast reconstruction, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and management in patients undergoing similar treatments.

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    Published: 2024-07-01
    Issue: 2024: LATEST ONLINE (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Aldarayseh M, Sodhi SS, Musleh G, Kumar D, Cholankeril M. Unforeseen complications of pembrolizumab in breast reconstruction post-mastectomy. EJCRIM 2024;11 doi:10.12890/2024_004675.

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