How do you prescribe a steroid taper for radiation and checkpoint inhibitor related pneumonitis?
I've seen a handful of fatal radiation pneumonitis associated with rapid steroid tapers by the non-treating physicians. How do you recommend prescribing a taper to prevent this?
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Answered on
I subscribe to the philosophy of "hitting hard, tapering slowly" for cases of pneumonitis, either radiation pneumonitis, or checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (some of those cases probably have mixed origin, with contributions from radiation and/or checkpoint inhibitors).
For severely symptoma...
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Pulmonology · Yale Pulmonary And Critical Care
Answered on
Approach to treatment-related pneumonitis, whether drug or radiation-induced, should always be governed by the severity of the presentation. In my opinion, any patient with severe symptoms, new oxygen requirements, or out-of-field findings on imaging should be managed in concert with a pulmonologist...
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