Neutropenic enterocolitis: A clinico-pathological review

Abstract

Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a predominantly cecum-based disease with high mortality seen in patients post chemotherapy. The pathogenesis of NE is poorly understood and probably multifactorial involving mucosal injury, neutropenia, and impaired host defense to intestinal organisms. The clinical presentation is characterized as ileocolonic inflammation and bowel wall thickening in patients with neutropenia, fever, and abdominal pain. The pathological features of NE include patchy necrosis, hemorrhage, ulcer, edema, perforation, infiltrating organisms, and characteristically, depletion of inflammatory cells (neutrophils). NE should always be considered as a possible diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients, especially those receiving chemotherapy. High clinical and histological diagnostic discordance rate exists. High index of clinical suspicion and prompt appropriate personalized management are essential to achieve a lower mortality rate.