Diagnostic Challenges in PD-1 Inhibitor Induced Panuveitis in a Teenage Girl with Chest Soft Tissue Sarcoma - A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To report a case of programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor induced panuveitis.

METHOD: Observational case report of a 13-year-old Chinese girl presented as panuveitis. The clinical course, imaging performance, laboratory examination, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were described.

RESULT: Patient presented with bilateral anterior granulomatous uveitis, vitritis, papillitis, and various creamy yellow nodular lesions in the mid-peripheral fundus. She had a history of biopsy proven alveolar soft tissue sarcoma on the chest wall and pulmonary metastasis, and a PD-1 inhibitor (sintilimab) was intravenously administered. Blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging of the cranium and the orbit, aqueous humor assay of inflammatory cytokines and microbial DNA were performed to distinguish infectious and non-infectious uveitis, choroidal metastases, and intravenous injection-related endophthalmitis. The oncologist evaluated that the sarcoma was stable and terminated sintilimab dosage. After sintilimab withdrawal, the blurred vision improved. Then, the patient received oral corticosteroids, resulted in resolution of the panuveitis. A diagnosis of PD-1 inhibitor induced panuveitis was made.

CONCLUSION

For patients taking PD-1 inhibitors, the major diagnostic challenge is to identify whether the cause of the uveitis is due to the antitumor treatment or not. It is suggested to be screened by eye care specialist and timely referral to uveitis specialist with any suspicion of intraocular inflammation for these patients.