Neutropenic enterocolitis: a rare presenting complication of acute leukemia.
Neutropenic enterocolitis is a necrotizing inflammatory process with intramural infection that occurs predominantly in neutropenic patients. This syndrome is most frequently observed after chemotherapy for hematologic and solid tissue malignancies, but it can also be observed in a number of other clinical settings as well. Neutropenic enterocolitis can be a rare presenting complication of acute leukemia. We report a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that presented with abdominal pain due to neutropenic enterocolitis. The diagnostic and treatment challenges associated with this manner of presentation are discussed.
Laboratory Department, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California 92134-1005, USA. mmquigley@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
M M
MM
Quigley
K
K
Bethel
M
M
Nowacki
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F
Millard
R
R
Sharpe
D000328:Adult; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology; D002432:Cecum / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D004487:Edema; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery