Dr. Naidoo Discusses the Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Lung Cancer

Jarushka Naidoo, MBBCh, assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins University, discusses advancements in the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients with lung cancer during the 5th Annual Miami Lung Cancer Conference.

In the past few years, there have been several guidelines published to assist physicians with diagnosing and identifying immune-related side effects. Pneumonitis is the most common irAE seen in patients with lung cancer, Naidoo says, and it can be difficult to discern the difference between pneumonitis and pneumonia or progression of lung cancer.

It is widely accepted practice now that patients receive a high-resolution CT scan, but they can have a chest xray to start. Patients who are symptomatic should be considered for a bronchoscopy with or without a lung biopsy in order to tell if a patient has pneumonitis.