Neutropenic Enterocolitis Associated with Docetaxel-based Chemotherapy in a Patient with Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a rare but often life-threatening complication associated with taxane-based chemotherapy in patients with cancer. Case Report: A 39-year-old woman with a diagnosis of breast carcinoma underwent breast conserving surgery for the right breast. She was treated with docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin for the following months. Seven days after receiving the first dose of chemotherapy, she was presented to our emergency center with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and diffuse abdominal pain. Abdominal examination revealed right lower quadrant tenderness with rebound. Blood work revealed severe neutropenia and leucopenia. Computed tomography demonstrated thickening of the walls of the ascending and transverse colon. Furthermore, emergency laparotomy revealed a necrotic hepatic flexura without perforation. Right hemicolectomy was performed; the biopsy revealed acute hemorrhagic infarction of the colon. Conclusion: Patients with breast carcinoma presenting with acute abdominal pain, neutropenia, and radiologically demonstrable bowel wall thickening while receiving taxane-based chemotherapy should be suspected of having NE

Keywords

• Neutropenic enterocolitis, docetaxel, chemotherapy

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