Rectal perforation following paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug commonly used in the management of ovarian cancer. Colonic perforation is an extremely rare complication of paclitaxel administration with few case reports in the medical literature. We report a case of a patient with advanced ovarian cancer who had a rectal perforation following administration of paclitaxel. There has only been one other case report of rectal perforation in the medical literature following paclitaxel therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old Caucasian woman with advanced ovarian cancer awaiting elective debulking surgery for her tumor presented to our emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was admitted to hospital for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and management of her systemic symptoms. She became acutely unwell following one cycle of chemotherapy with paclitaxel. A computed tomography scan of her abdomen showed typhlitis of her descending colon and a corresponding rectal perforation. Surgical intervention was deemed inappropriate as she had a heavy burden of disease and neutropenia. She died following a period of conservative management with strong intravenously administered antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of recognizing gastrointestinal complications following chemotherapy and the need to be aware of the possibility of bowel perforation. Prompt surgical review and intervention must be requested in patients with acute abdominal pain and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.