Intussusception: a rare complication in a patient with acute leukaemia after consolidation chemotherapy

BMJ Case Rep. 2017 Feb 28:2017:bcr2016218683. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-218683.

Abstract

Intussusception is telescoping of one segment of the gastrointestinal tract into an adjacent one. It is more common in children than adults. When it occurs in adults, it is usually associated with a lead point. Intussusception is very rare in acute leukaemia and has only been reported in few cases. We present a case of an adult woman who presented with intussusception after a cycle of consolidation chemotherapy with high-dose cytarabine for acute myeloid leukaemia. Other causes of acute abdominal pain were excluded, and the diagnosis was established by CT scan of the abdomen and barium enema. No pathological lead points were found intraoperatively. She underwent a right-sided hemicolectomy with complete recovery. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the fourth case of intussusception that has been reported in an adult patient with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Consolidation Chemotherapy
  • Cytarabine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases / complications*
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Intussusception / complications*
  • Intussusception / diagnostic imaging
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Cytarabine