title: Pleural effusion in a patient with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with imatinib: case report.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare malignancies characterized by c-kit and PDGFR-α mutations targeted by imatinib. Pleural effusion is a very rare side effect of imatinib treatment. A 65-year-old female with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor developed electrolyte imbalance, severe peripheral edema and progressively worsening dyspnea 2 months after starting imatinib. Having excluded cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, imatinib was discontinued and prednisone 25 mg orally daily was begun. The patient's condition improved substantially over the next 48 h with a progressive decrease in dyspnea and a reduction in pleural effusion and peripheral edema. All side effects had resolved within 1 month. In view of the partial response obtained, the patient re-started imatinib after a 1-week interruption. Prednisone was maintained and there was no further toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Osteoncology & Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bongiovanni
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calpona
authors.forename: Devil
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oboldi
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercatali
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liverani
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vita
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foca
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gunelli
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate
keywords: gastrointestinal stromal tumor; imatinib; metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor; pleural effusion; toxicity