Neutropenic Enterocolitis 

  • Author: Keith Sultan, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 11, 2011
 

Background

Neutropenic enterocolitis, also known as typhlitis (from the greek "typhlon" for cecum) is an acute life-threatening condition classically characterized by transmural inflammation of the cecum, often with involvement of the ascending colon and ileum, in patients who are severely myelosuppressed.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

The clinical presentation of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) can be dramatic, and the outcome may be devastating. Mortality rates are high, and treatment is controversial, with options varying from conservative medical management to surgical intervention.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] Early recognition of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) is paramount to a potentially good outcome.

Although initially described in children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia[9] over the past 3 decades, neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) has increasingly been reported in adults with a variety of myeloproliferative disorders, solid malignant tumors, and in the setting of immunosuppression with solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. Some cases in adults are due to the increasing use of myelotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens.

For patient education resources, see the Esophagus, Stomach, and Intestine Center, as well as Colitis, Abdominal Pain in Adults, and Complete Blood Count.

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Pathophysiology

Although the exact etiology and progression of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) are unknown, profound neutropenia appears to be the common denominator. Many factors have been described that may potentially play a role in the pathogenesis of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis), and they include the following:

  • Mucosal injury caused by cytotoxic drugs – However, mucosal injury can occur in the absence of cytotoxic drug therapy, and neutropenia itself can cause mucosal ulcerations.
  • Cecal distention – Whether primary or secondary to vinca alkaloids, cecal distention may compromise the blood supply, leading to further mucosal damage.
  • The use of antibiotics and steroids – These agents may contribute to an altered enteric bacterial flora and overgrowth of fungi.
  • Bacterial, and sometimes fungal invasion of the impaired bowel wall – These may result in transmural inflammation, leading to perforation and peritonitis. Bacteremia is a frequent complication, with less frequent fungemia.[10]

The pathologic process of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) may involve the cecum alone, or it may extend to the ileum, ascending colon, or both. It is felt that cecal distensibility and limited blood supply may predispose the cecum to injury more often than other areas.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

The exact incidence and prevalence rates of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) are unknown, because many patients survive and are never diagnosed with this condition. Also, because there is no gold standard of diagnosis for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis), the inclusion criteria differ among studies.

An autopsy study in children reported a prevalence rate of 24%,[11] whereas a cohort study in children treated for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) reported a frequency rate of 33%.[12] A recent retrospective review of 1224 children treated for malignancy showed an incidence of only 1.4%, of which 53% were treated for leukemia.[13] Data regarding neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) in adults are sparse. In one systematic review, a 5.3% pooled incidence rate was been reported in adults.[10]

International

An even greater paucity of information regarding the international incidence and prevalence rates of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) exists in the published literature. A study from India performed by Jain et al reported a frequency rate of 6.1% in 180 children undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).[14] A retrospective study from Turkey performed by Buyukasik et al reported an incidence rate of 6.5% for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) in acute myeloid leukemia and 4.6% for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.[15] Another Turkish study, a large prospective cohort study of adults, showed an incidence rate of 3.5%, which was significantly associated with acute leukemias and anthracycline administration in adults.[16] Again, a lower incidence of 0.22% has been reported in the treatment of malignancy, not specifically leukemia.[17]

Mortality/Morbidity

  • Mortality rates of 5-100% have been reported during conservative management of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis), with an average mortality rate of about 40-50%.
  • In a collective review of 178 published cases, the mortality rate of neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) was reported at 48% for conservative management and 21% for surgical management; however, these numbers cannot be compared with each other because of selection bias. No prospective randomized trials comparing surgery to medical management have been performed.

Race

No predilection for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) in any specific race is reported in the literature.

Sex

No sex predilection for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) is reported in the literature.

Age

  • No known frequency differences in age groups exist for neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) based on the published literature.
  • Although neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) was initially described in children, it is increasingly reported in adults.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Keith Sultan, MD  Faculty Practice, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, North Shore University Hospital

Keith Sultan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Rajeev Vasudeva, MD, FACG  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Consultants in Gastroenterology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine

Rajeev Vasudeva, MD, FACG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Columbia Medical Society, South Carolina Gastroenterology Association, and South Carolina Medical Association

Disclosure: Pricara Honoraria Speaking and teaching; UCB Consulting fee Consulting

Specialty Editor Board

Robert J Fingerote, MD, MSc, FRCPC  Consultant, Clinical Evaluation Division, Biologic and Gene Therapies, Directorate Health Canada; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, York Central Hospital, Ontario

Robert J Fingerote, MD, MSc, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterological Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF  Chief of GI, Hepatology, and Nutrition at North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center; Professor, Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Physicians, and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds Other; Bayer Grant/research funds Other; Otsuka Grant/research funds None; Bristol Myers Squibb Grant/research funds Other; Scynexis None None; Salix Grant/research funds Other; MannKind Other

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP  Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine

Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Ulcerative oral mucositis lesion on the lateral and ventral surfaces of the tongue.
Colonic pseudomembranes of pseudomembranous colitis. Photographs courtesy of Eric M. Osgard, MD.
Frontal abdominal radiograph in a patient with proved pseudomembranous colitis. Note the nodular haustral thickening, most pronounced in the transverse colon.
Perforated appendicitis with abscess; computed tomography scan. Note the appendicolith (arrow) and air within the abscess. The terminal ileum lies anterior to the appendiceal abscess, and inflammatory change is noted in its wall, which appears thickened (open arrow).
Plain abdominal radiograph in a 44-year-old man known to have long history of ulcerative colitis. The patient presented with an acute exacerbation of symptoms. Image shows thumbprinting in the region of the splenic flexure of the colon.
Typhlitis. Marked asymmetric cecal wall thickening (arrow) in a 64-year-old patient whose status is postchemotherapeutic for lymphoma.
Typhlitis. Marked circumferential cecal and ascending colon wall thickening (large arrows) with mild pericolonic inflammatory stranding (small arrows).
 
 
 
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