Early detection by ultrasound scan of severe post-chemotherapy gut complications in patients with acute leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
Acute leukemia patients may develop life-threatening gut complications after intensive chemotherapy. We evaluated the role of abdominal and pelvic ultrasound (US) examination in early detection of these complications.


METHODS
A cohort of twenty adult acute leukemia patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for remission induction entered the study. All chemotherapy regimens included cytarabine by continuous i.v. infusion for several days.


RESULTS
Three patients had severe gut complications: 2 cases of enterocolitis and 1 case of gall bladder overdistension in the absence of calculi. In all cases the abnormality was documented by US examination: US scan showed thickening of the intestinal wall (two cases), and gall bladder overdistension with biliary sludge (one case). Immediate medical care included bowel rest, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, antimycotic treatment, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. All patients recovered from the complication.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that the favorable outcome obtained in our small series can be attributed to early diagnosis followed by appropriate treatment. Early recognition by US and immediate medical management can lead to complete recovery of severe intestinal complications in patients with acute leukemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
Picardi
M
M
Division of Hematology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
Selleri
C
C
Camera
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A
Catalano
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Rotoli
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015479:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005047:Etoposide; D015255:Idarubicin