Abstract
This case study highlights the need for palliative care (PC) clinicians to expand their knowledge of rare complications associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment. We describe a 73-year-old male with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue who developed ICI-mediated keratitis as a side effect of pembrolizumab. The patient’s preexisting opioid regimen for chronic pain complicated the management of acute ocular pain, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. This case demonstrates how a thorough understanding of novel cancer therapies and their adverse effects is critical for PC teams to facilitate timely diagnosis, initiate effective treatment, and enhance patient outcomes.
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