Typhlitis during second-line chemotherapy with pemetrexed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A case report

Lung Cancer. 2009 Aug;65(2):251-3. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.02.021. Epub 2009 Apr 5.

Abstract

Neutropenic enterocolitis, or typhlitis, is an unusual acute complication of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, characterized by inflammatory process involving colon and/or small bowel that may progress to necrosis, haemorrhage, perforation and septicaemia. Typhlitis is usually seen in the setting of severe chemotherapy-induced neutropenia for acute leukaemia. Nevertheless, it is increasingly recognized as a complication of therapy in solid tumors. We present a case of typhlitis in a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received pemetrexed, as second-line chemotherapy treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Glutamates / adverse effects*
  • Guanine / adverse effects
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / complications
  • Pemetrexed
  • Typhlitis / etiology*
  • Typhlitis / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Glutamates
  • Pemetrexed
  • Guanine