A Case of Pegfilgrastim-induced Aortitis during Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

A 69-year-old woman received neoadjuvant docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (DCF) therapy for lower thoracic esophageal cancer (cT2N1M0, Stage II). Pegfilgrastim had been administered on Day 3 of the first course. Abdominal pain and arthralgia developed on Day 12, and increased fever and an inflammatory reaction were observed on Day 14 when she visited our hospital. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a soft tissue shadow around the aorta, and a diagnosis of aortitis due to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) preparation use was made. The inflammatory reaction gradually improved, and the symptoms improved without the use of steroids. Although the number of reported cases of aortitis due to administration of G-CSF preparations has been increasing in recent years, it is still rare. The case of a patient with esophageal cancer who developed aortitis after administration of pegfilgrastim during neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery is reported.