Especially, myocarditis as an adverse event after PD-L1 inhibitor therapy is characterized for its low incidence and high mortality.<h4>Case summary</h4>Here we present a rare case of a 67-year-old male with lung squamous cell carcinoma complicated with empyema who experienced myocarditis after only PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab monotherapy. This evidence concerns the gene CD274 and empyema.