A Case of Elective Surgery for Acute Appendicitis that Occurred in the Bone Marrow Inhabitation Stage of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Abstract

A 36-year-old woman was diagnosed as having acute myelogenous leukemia and started anti-leukemic treatment. The patient complained of right lower quadrant pain and a high fever on the 14th day after initiation of the regimen. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a swollen appendix and the patient was diagnosed as having acute appendicitis, however the laboratory data showed pancytopenia. Therefore, we preferred conservative therapy to surgery. Starting on the 14th days after conservative therapy, the pancytopenia improved, so we performed a laparoscopic appendectomy. The patient was discharged on the 7th day after the surgery without complication. We report our experience with a review of the pertinent literature.