Internal Medicine Resident TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER Tucson, United States
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are widely used across multiple malignancies and are associated with immune mediated endocrine adverse events, most commonly thyroid dysfunction. While ICI-induced thyroiditis is well described with programmed cell death protein one inhibitors, fewer cases have been reported with durvalumab, a programmed death ligand one inhibitor, potentially leading to under recognition.
Case Presentation A woman in her seventies with muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma received neoadjuvant gemcitabine, split-dose cisplatin, and durvalumab beginning in 2025. Baseline thyroid function was normal. Within four weeks of immunotherapy initiation, she developed symptomatic thyrotoxicosis with heat intolerance and palpitations, accompanied by suppressed TSH ≤0.01 µIU/mL and peak FT4 3.45 ng/dL, FT3 4.57 pg/mL. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 720.7 IU/mL, thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin 1.80 IU/L, and TSH receptor antibodies 2.12 IU/L. Despite autoantibody positivity, radioactive iodine uptake was low, supporting ICI-induced destructive thyroiditis rather than Graves disease. Symptomatic treatment with beta adrenergic blockade was initiated, and durvalumab was continued. Over subsequent weeks, thyroid function rapidly transitioned to severe hypothyroidism with TSH >46.0 µIU/mL and FT4 0.30 ng/dL, necessitating levothyroxine replacement. The patient completed neoadjuvant therapy, underwent definitive surgical management, and resumed adjuvant durvalumab with stable thyroid function.
Discussion This case demonstrates the marked and rapid biochemical variability of thyroiditis, including severe thyrotoxicosis followed by profound hypothyroidism. It underscores the importance of serial thyroid monitoring and endocrine involvement to allow safe continuation of life-prolonging immunotherapy without unnecessary interruption.
Conclusion & Learning Points ●Autoantibody positivity does not reliably distinguish Graves disease from destructive thyroiditis ●Symptomatic management and close biochemical monitoring often allow continuation of life saving immunotherapy ●Early endocrine involvement prevents unnecessary treatment delays and optimizes outcomes
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