Necrotizing enterocolitis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients: department experience

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a severe complication of high-dose chemotherapy in patients with hematopoietic malignancies. Some patients with severe mucositis may develop necrosis of the intestine, leading to typhlitis and perforation of the intestinal tract. The patients have few obvious symptoms; thus, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of intestinal necrosis or bowel perforation seem critical for a good overall treatment outcome. We present 5 cases of intraabdominal complications in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All patients who underwent surgery survived the postoperative period. We also present a suggested algorithm for treatment of acute abdomen complications in leukemic patients.