Neutropenic enterocolitis

Colitis has been reported as a rare comphcation of fluorouracil treatment. Two cases have been reported after intra-arterial chemotherapy (96). A fnrther case has been reported, described by the authors as neutropenic enterocolitis, presenting as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and neutropenia (97). Proven pseudomembranons colitis followed 36 weekly doses of fluorouracil (700 mg) and folinic acid (150 mg) the anthors believed that this was only the second reported case (98). 

Kronawitter U, Kemeny NE, Blumgart L. Neutropenic enterocolitis in a patient with colorectal carcinoma unusual course after treatment with 5-fluorouracil and leucov-orin—a case report. Cancer 1997 80(4) 656-60. 

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a life-threatening complication in neutropenic patients with acute leukaemia undergoing aggressive myelosuppressive chemotherapy (Gorschluter et al. 2001), the incidence varying between 1.8% and 32.5% (highest frequency in children) with a mortality of at least 50% (Wade et al. 1992 GorschlAter et al. 2001). 

Fig. 11.6a,b. Transverse (a) and axial (b) views of ascending colon wall thickening, reflecting neutropenic enterocolitis characterized by marked mucosal and submucosal oedema and occasional haemorrhage... 

Wade DS,Nava HR, Douglass-Ho J (1992) Neutropenic enterocolitis. Clinical diagnosis and treatment. Cancer 69 17-23... 

D Amato G, Rocha Lima C, Mahany JJ, Muro-Cacho C, Haura EB. Neutropenic enterocolitis (typhilitis) associated with docetaxel therapy in a patient with non-... 

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