Cardiothoracic Complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: An Imaging Review

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has revolutionized the treatment of many different types of cancer. However, despite dramatic improvements in tumor oncologic response and patient outcomes, immune checkpoint blockade has been associated with multiple distinctive side-effects termed immune-related adverse events. These often have important clinical implications because these can vary in severity, sometimes even resulting in death. Therefore, it is important for both radiologists and clinicians to recognize and be aware of these reactions to help appropriately guide patient management. This article specifically highlights imaging manifestations of the most common cardiothoracic toxicities of these agents, including pneumonitis, sarcoid-like granulomatosis and lymphadenopathy, and myocarditis.