Abstract
Fluminant amebic colitis can develop in an amebic carrier patient triggered by immune suppression. This disease sometimes becomes fatal in a short term resulting from perforation of the digestive tract. We have experienced a case of fluminant amebic colitis presented with a huge rectal ulcer that was induced by systemic chemotherapy for lung cancer. The ulcer worsened to form a refractory vesicorectal fistula and severe inflammatory reaction due to the associated multiple hepatic abscesses was noted. After immediate anti-amebic therapy, we performed a colostomy followed by closure of the colostomy after an interval of 10 months when the cure of the fistula was confirmed. Soon after that, we re-started chemotherapy for lung cacer.
It is rare that fluminant amebic colitis develops by systemic chemotherapy for malignancy. Immediate definitive diagnosis and early initiation of anti-amebic therapy might determine the recovery of such patients.
