Paclitaxel-Induced Bowel Perforation: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen

Abstract

Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, is routinely administered for the treatment of various solid organ malignancies. In rare instances, patients receiving infusions of paclitaxel may present with signs of an acute abdomen. Ischemia and necrosis of the bowel wall from chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and direct toxic effects of the drug have been implicated as the cause. We present a case of necrotizing small and large bowel perforation in a patient with breast cancer, 2 weeks after paclitaxel administration.

Keywords

• neutropenic enterocolitis
• bowel perforation
• acute abdomen
• chemotherapy
• paclitaxel
• abdominal pain