Typhlitis in children with malignancy: a single center experience

In a case-control study, medical records of all children (below 18 y of age) who were diagnosed with any malignancy between January 1988 and December 2008 were reviewed. Children who developed typhlitis during the course of their malignancy were identified. Age and sex-matched controls who were diagnosed with malignancy during the same time period but did not develop typhlitis were identified (1:4 ratio). The variables that were examined included underlying malignancy, chemotherapy, and final outcome. A total of 410 children (226 males, mean age of 87.29 ± 56.8 mo) with malignancy were recruited. Nine children (0.22%) (4 boys, mean age of 87.56 ± 60.48 mo) developed typhlitis during the course of their disease. In the control group, 36 age and sex-matched children were included (mean age of 87.67 ± 57.91 mo). Children who had Clostridium difficile infection within 8 weeks before developing typhlitis were more likely to develop typhlitis compared with controls (odds ratio 7.99, 95% confidence interval 1.46-43.7, P=0.01). One patient died from typhlitis. Clostridium difficile infection is a risk factor for developing typhlitis in children with cancer. Larger multicenter trials are needed to confirm our conclusions.