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Emphysematous gastritis in a leukemic child
Medical and Pediatric Oncology
|January 1, 1976
Insights
Emphysematous gastritis, a rare condition involving air in the stomach wall, was identified in a child with leukemia. This finding, linked to gram-negative sepsis, has not been previously reported in gastric involvement.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging
- Pediatric oncology
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Leukemia treatment often involves chemotherapy and steroids, which can suppress the immune system.
- Immunocompromised patients are susceptible to severe infections, including sepsis.
- Necrotizing enterocolitis, characterized by air in the bowel wall, is a known complication in critically ill leukemic children.
Observation:
- A case of emphysematous gastritis was observed in a leukemic child undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatment.
- Radiographic imaging revealed air within a thickened gastric wall.
- The patient also presented with gram-negative sepsis.
Findings:
- Emphysematous gastritis is a newly described entity in the context of gram-negative sepsis in a pediatric leukemia patient.
- The radiographic findings of gastric wall thickening and intramural air are analogous to those seen in necrotizing enterocolitis.
- This represents the first reported instance of gastric involvement in this clinical scenario.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of gastrointestinal complications in immunocompromised pediatric patients.
- Early recognition and diagnosis of emphysematous gastritis are crucial for timely management.
- Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and optimize treatment strategies for this rare condition.
Abstract:
Emphysematous gastritis associated with gram-negative sepsis is described in a leukemic child on chemotherapy and steroids. Bubbly-appearing air and thickening of the gastric wall were radiographically demonstrated. This is analogous to the demonstration of air within the thickened bowel wall in necrotizing enterocolitis, which is not unusual in seriously ill leukemic children. Gastric involvement has not been previously reported.