title: Acute leukemic appendicitis in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
abstract: Leukemic and lymphomatous infiltration of the appendix is a rare complication. We present the case of a 31-year-old male with acute promyelocytic leukemia who developed acute abdomen on day 11 of induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine. After appropriate work-up, a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made. Despite severe pancytopenia, he successfully underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. The final pathology revealed leukemic infiltration of the appendix. It is hypothesized that the leukemic infiltration may play a role in the development of acute appendicitis. Further, this case demonstrates the need to maintain a high index of suspicion and prompt surgical intervention for surgical pathologies in neutropenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, New York, USA. karachih@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Hatim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karachiwala
authors.forename: Subhraleena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Srivalli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopaluni
authors.forename: Ajeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D060830:Consolidation Chemotherapy; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome