Conservative management of acute appendicitis in children with hematologic malignancies during chemotherapy-induced neutropenia

Abstract

The management of acute appendicitis in the febrile neutropenic patient after intensive chemotherapy is controversial. We report our single-center-experience of 5 children diagnosed with appendicitis during febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy for acute leukemia or lymphoma. All patients presented with an isolated appendicitis without signs of overt mucositis or more diffuse enterocolitis. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography. Perforation with retrocecal abscess was present in 1 patient. Administration of combination antimicrobial regimens including meropenem resulted in complete resolution in all patients. Our observations indicate that acute appendicitis in clinically stable neutropenic cancer patients can be managed conservatively without surgery.