A Case of Pseudomenbranous Colitis after Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Chemotherapy.
10.4166/kjg.2009.54.5.328
- Author:
Sung Woo YANG
1
;
Won MOON
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. moonone70@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Pseudomembranous colitis;
Clostridium difficile;
Paclitaxel;
Carboplatin;
Chemotherapy
- MeSH:
Aged;
Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Carboplatin/*adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology;
Humans;
Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy;
Male;
Metronidazole/therapeutic use;
Paclitaxel/*adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Sigmoidoscopy;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2009;54(5):328-332
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Antibiotics-associated pseudomembranous colitis is well documented and caused by abnormal overgrowth of toxin producing Clostridium difficile colonizing the large bowel of patients undergoing antibiotic therapy. Administration of chemotherapeutic agents is frequently complicated by diarrhea and enterocolitis. However, pseudomembranous colitis related to chemotherapeutic agent usage is very rare. We experienced a 67 old-years male patient diagnosed of non-small cell lung carcinoma who complained of watery diarrhea and abdominal pain after treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Sigmoidoscopic examination revealed diffusely scattered, whitish to yellowish pseudo-membrane with background edematous hyperemic mucosa from sigmoid colon to rectum. Histopathologic findings were consistent with pseudomembranous colitis as typical volcano-like exudate. The symptoms improved after stopping chemotherapy and treatment with metronidazole. In patients with persistent diarrhea and abdominal pain after receiving chemotherapy agents, although rare, pseudomembranous colitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
