Neutropenic enterocolitis as a cause of chronic intestinal failure in a pediatric patient

Background: Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a severe inflammation of the intestines in neutropenic patients due to gut mucosal injury from chemotherapy, malignant infiltration or infection. A majority of the patients has received treatment for hematological malignancies. Pathological changes include inflammation, edema, transmural necrosis, abscess formation, bleeding and sometimes fistulazation or perforation. Conservative treatment with antibiotics, bowel rest and parental nutrition is successful in most cases.