Appendicitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Appendicitis, including details on symptoms, surgery, causes, treatment.

Febrile neutropenia as the presenting sign of appendicitis in an adolescent with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Ozyurek E, Arda S, Ozkiraz S, Alioglu B, Arikan U, Ozbek N

Baskent University Faculty of 0Medicine, Department of Haematology, Ankara, Turkey.

The diagnosis and management of a surgical abdomen in patients with acute leukemia is quite difficult because of the complications and treatment of disease itself. A 13-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia developed 2 episodes of febrile neutropenia during induction therapy. The second one was treated with a 5-day course of parenteral antimicrobial therapy, but the patient then presented with right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness, guarding, and rebound tenderness. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed appendicitis. Conservative medical management was unsuccessful, and appendectomy was performed 5 days after appendicitis was diagnosed. The patient's clinical manifestations resolved 5 days later. The case illustrates that fever may be the first manifestation of appendicitis in a child with acute myelogenous leukaemia who is neutropenic. Surgery is acceptable as first-line treatment in such cases.

Published 6 March 2006 in Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 23(3): 269-73.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Appendicitis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.