All issues > Volume 31(5); 1988

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1988;31(5):607-620. Published online May 31, 1988.

Clinical Characteristics and Pathogenesis of Typhlitis in Childhood Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia-Considerations on Clinical Mangement with Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

Do Hyun Kim¹, Sung Oh Kim¹, Soo Yup Lee¹, In Joon Seol¹, Hahng Lee¹, Chong Moo Park¹, Poong Man Jung², Seok Chol Jeon³, Young Hyeh Ko⁴, Jung Dal Lee⁴

Received: November 4, 1987;  Accepted: December 30, 1987.

Abstract

The treatment of acute leukemia in childhood has been increasingly successful due to progression of chemotherapeutics and other supportive care. Improved survival rates in acute childhood leukemia have been associated with an increasing number of complications in the gastrointestinal tract. Typhlitis also known as ileocecal syndrome is a necrotizing inflammation of the cecum in leukemic patients on chemotherapy in the terminal stage of the disease and is often associated with neutropenia. Once the ileocecal complication developed, the prognosis was grave. The authors experienced two cases of typhlitis among acute non-lymphocytic leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy. The clinical, roentgenographic findings, operative findings, pathologic findings and outcomes are presented with the review of the literature on the subject. The importance of recognizing this entity is emphasized because early detection with high index of suspicion might provide better treatment and may alter the prognosis. Authors investigated the diagnostic findings of typhlitis and attempted to provide early diagnostic criteria, and the factors to improve the therapeutic outcome of typhlitis are suggested.

Keywords :Typhlitis, Acute leukemia, Chemotherapy, Neutropenia