Fatal neutropenic colitis complicating successful chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer: a case report.
Neutropenic colitis, a severe necrotizing enteropathy, is being recognized with increasing frequency as a life-threatening complication of aggressive chemotherapy mainly for lymphoproliferative and hematologic malignancies. It is often under-recognized clinically, despite its potentially lethal outcome. Both medical and surgical approaches to management are possible. We describe a case of neutropenic colitis involving predominantly the transverse colon in a patient successfully treated for limited-disease small cell lung cancer. This is only the second reported case of neutropenic colitis complicating chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer. A brief review of the diagnosis, clinical features, and management is presented.
Stein
M
M
Northern Israel Oncology Center, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Zalik
M
M
Drumea
K
K
Lachter
J
J
Militianu
D
D
Haim
N
N
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000009:adverse effects; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000139:chemically induced; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects
D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide