[Typhlitis]

Abstract

Typhlitis (from Greek, "typhlon", cecum) is an inflammatory process involving the cecum and ascending colon--in neutropenic patients after chemotherapy. Early diagnosis and treatment is of great importance, since the mortality is high. In the past decade there has been an increasing number of reports, as well as impressive improvement in diagnosis, and treatment. We describe 2 patients treated in our department. We emphasize the evolving changes in the management of these patients, from early surgical intervention to conservative treatment, and the problem of prophylactic treatment for those who survive an episode of typhlitis.