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Case Reports
. 2020 Apr 22;13(1):442-448.
doi: 10.1159/000506896. eCollection 2020 Jan-Apr.

Neutropenic Enterocolitis in the Treatment of Solid Tumors: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sara Cherri  1 , Tiziana Prochilo  1 , Luigina Rota  1 , Stefano Mutti  2 , Marco Garatti  2 , Barbara Liserre  3 , Alberto Zaniboni  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Neutropenic Enterocolitis in the Treatment of Solid Tumors: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sara Cherri et al. Case Rep Oncol. .

Abstract

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a clinical condition characterized by inflammation of the colic mucosa, usually the caecum, associated with bowel wall thickening in patients with compromised immune system due to chemotherapy treatments. It can occur as well in other clinical conditions that lead to immunosuppression. Clinically, patients present with abdominal pain, fever, and neutropenia on blood tests. A number of major and minor criteria have been suggested for the clinical diagnosis of typhlitis. The most sensitive radiological investigation is represented by a computed tomography scan. There are no guidelines for treatment, but some factors may lead the clinician to medical treatments or prompt surgery as the best choice in that particular patient. The most implicated chemotherapeutic regimens are those based on taxanes. Here, we present a clinical case of a young patient with breast cancer and a review of the state of the art of knowledge regarding neutropenic enterocolitis in adult patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors.

Keywords: Colitis; Docetaxel; Neutropenic enterocolitis; Typhlitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT scan image.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Image of the resected colon.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Image of the pathological anatomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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