Isolated appendiceal typhlitis masquerading as perforated appendicitis in the setting of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Abdominal pain is common during chemotherapy for childhood leukemia. Clinically differentiating typhlitis from appendicitis can be difficult. We present an 8-year-old boy with abdominal pain in the setting of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and neutropenia. Following appendectomy for presumed appendicitis, pathology revealed appendiceal typhlitis. Diagnostic and treatment considerations are discussed.
Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital and University of Washington, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA, jarodmc@uw.edu.
Jarod P
JP
McAteer
Sabrina E
SE
Sanchez
Joe C
JC
Rutledge
John H T
JH
Waldhausen
D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053706:Typhlitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*