Pazopanib-Induced Asymptomatic Necrotizing Pancreatitis Diagnosed on ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT Scan

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Radiology

Background:

• Pazopanib is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used to treat advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS).
• While improving patient survival and quality of life, pazopanib can cause serious adverse effects, including rare instances of acute pancreatitis.
• These effects are often linked to the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors.

Observation:

• A patient with metastatic STS undergoing pazopanib treatment developed asymptomatic necrotizing pancreatitis.
• The condition was incidentally detected using 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging.
• No overt symptoms of pancreatitis were reported by the patient.

Findings:

• This case report details a rare instance of pazopanib-induced necrotizing pancreatitis.
• 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging proved effective in identifying this asymptomatic adverse event.
• The findings underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring for rare side effects of TKIs.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider pazopanib-induced pancreatitis in patients with STS, even in the absence of typical symptoms.
• Advanced imaging techniques like 18F-FDG PET-CT can aid in early detection of rare drug-induced complications.
• Further research may be needed to elucidate the mechanisms and incidence of pazopanib-related pancreatitis.