title: Fatal neutropenic colitis complicating successful chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer: a case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Northern Israel Oncology Center, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zalik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drumea
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lachter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Militianu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide