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Gastrointestinal complications of the leukemias

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Summary and Conclusions

A review of the gastrointestinal manifestations of leukemia has been presented. Particular emphasis has been placed on anorectal complications of this disease. Anorectal complications of the leukemias are characterized by thrombosis, necrosis, ulceration, sloughing, and sometimes abscess formation. These changes may or may not be accompanied by leukemic infiltration of the anorectal area.

The authors are impressed by the close temporal relationship between the onset of acute anorectal lesions in leukemic patients and the extreme gravity of prognosis. There is no doubt that the occurrence of these lesions in a patient with acute leukemia is a very grave prognostic sign.

Treatment of anorectal lesions in patients suffering with acute leukemia should be conservative. Surgical intervention is indicated only for release of obvious collections of pus.

Antibiotic agents should be used only when specifically indicated and not prophylactically.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota

    David L. Siegal M.D. (Resident) & William C. Bernstein M.D. (Clinical Professor of Surgery, Director)

  2. Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Minnesota Hospitals, USA

    David L. Siegal M.D. (Resident)

  3. Division of Proctology, University of Minnesota Medical School, USA

    William C. Bernstein M.D. (Clinical Professor of Surgery, Director)

Authors
  1. David L. Siegal M.D.
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  2. William C. Bernstein M.D.
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Additional information

The teaching and research projects in Proctology at the University of Minnesota are supported by grants from the Annie and Lewis Paper Foundation.

Read at the meeting of the American Proctologic Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 14 to 16, 1965.

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Siegal, D.L., Bernstein, W.C. Gastrointestinal complications of the leukemias. Dis Colon Rectum 8, 377–381 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02627264

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02627264

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