Abstract
Introduction: Neutropenic enterocolitis is defined as a multifactorial inflammatory process typical of neutropenic patients, characterized by transmural damage mainly at the level of the cecum, although it can affect other areas such as the ascending colon and ileus. Due to the difficulty in the diagnosis and the complications that are presented, a descriptive study of this pathology, its diagnostic methods, management and main associated complications is carried out.
Methods: Between October 2016 and September 2017, a retrospective and descriptive study of patients diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) with relapse or refractoriness of their underlying disease who presented clinically and radiographically compatible conditions with neutropenic enterocolitis was performed. The study was carried out in the pediatric oncology service of the National Oncological Institute "Dr. Juan Tanca Marengo ", Solca Guayaquil.
Results: A total of 21 cases were identified, 17 (80.95%) of which were male. The main symptoms presented were abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever, in the context of neutropenic patients, who had received chemotherapy in the previous days. Abdominal ultrasound was used in all cases together with abdominal tomography performed in 6 patients as a complementary method to the diagnosis. No patient was operated on. All patients were managed conservatively with a favorable evolution.
Conclusion: This pathology should be suspected in any patient who presents symptoms compatible with abdominal pain, associated with fever or diarrhea and who had received chemotherapy in the previous days. The complementary studies necessary for the diagnosis must be requested urgently, and the patient must be managed in an integral manner. Reserving the surgical treatment for patients with an unfavorable evolution.