Paclitaxel-Induced Bowel Perforation: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen

Danial Haris Shaikh; Ahmed Baiomi; Shehriyar Mehershahi; Hafsa Abbas; Sudharshan Gongati; Suresh Kumar Nayudu

doi:10.1159/000510131

Paclitaxel-Induced Bowel Perforation: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen

Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2020 Dec 14;14(3):687-694. doi: 10.1159/000510131. eCollection 2020 Sep-Dec.

Authors

Danial Haris Shaikh^{1

2}, Ahmed Baiomi^{1

2}, Shehriyar Mehershahi^{1

2}, Hafsa Abbas^{1

2}, Sudharshan Gongati², Suresh Kumar Nayudu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, BronxCare Hospital Center, a Clinical Affiliate of Mount Sinai Health Systems and Academic Affiliate of Icahn School of Medicine, Bronx, New York, New York, USA.
² Department of Medicine, BronxCare Hospital Center, a Clinical Affiliate of Mount Sinai Health Systems and Academic Affiliate of Icahn School of Medicine, Bronx, New York, New York, USA.

Abstract

Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, is routinely administered for the treatment of various solid organ malignancies. In rare instances, patients receiving infusions of paclitaxel may present with signs of an acute abdomen. Ischemia and necrosis of the bowel wall from chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and direct toxic effects of the drug have been implicated as the cause. We present a case of necrotizing small and large bowel perforation in a patient with breast cancer, 2 weeks after paclitaxel administration.

Keywords: Abdominal pain; Acute abdomen; Bowel perforation; Chemotherapy; Neutropenic enterocolitis; Paclitaxel.

Publication types

Case Reports