title: Case report of pneumatosis intestinalis secondary to sunitinib treatment for refractory gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
abstract: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) occurs when inter-luminal air enters the bowel wall of the gastrointestinal tract via a mucosal defect. The condition is caused by numerous disease states, direct trauma, and various drugs. When PI is secondary to drug therapy, discontinuation of the offending agent results in the resolution of PI. We report on the case of a 73-year-old male with a history of refractory gastrointestinal stromal tumor experiencing PI while on sunitinib treatment. PI was noted via computed tomography (CT) scans 68 days after starting sunitinib therapy and showed near complete resolution on a follow up CT performed one month after discontinuing sunitinib. Given that a CT scan performed five months prior to the initiation of sunitinib did not show PI, lack of abdominal symptoms in our patient, and resolution of PI after discontinuing sunitinib, the cause of PI in our patient was likely due to sunitinib treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. Anthony.Jarkowski@roswellpark.org
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jarkowski
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Francescutti
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khushalani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D000077210:Sunitinib; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077210:Sunitinib