Neutropenic Enterocolitis in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

ABSTRACT

Neutropenic enterocolitis is an acute life-threatening, necrotizing inflammation of cecum and terminal ileum often seen in leukemia and lymphoma during periods of prolonged or severe neutropenia. It has been also referred to as necrotizing enterocolitis, ileocecal syndrome, or typhlitis (from the Greek word typhlon meaning cecum). The pathophysiology of the neutropenic enterocolitis is unknown but is believed to be multifactorial. The clinical symptoms of neutropenic enterocolitis are nonspecific including fever, abdominal pain (often right lower quadrant), abdominal distension, diarrhea, bloody stools, nausea, and vomiting. So acute appendicitis is should be included in the differential diagnosis. The early signs and symptoms are nonspecific and it may rapidly lead to intestinal perforation. The definite management of neutropenic enterocolitis is contrversial. but the prognosis is likely to be good with early diagnosis and proper management. We report one case of neutropenic enterocolitis in acute myelogenous leukemia with literature review.