[Colonic perforation in a patient treated with combination chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma].

Background: Colonic perforation due to colitis is a known and reported side effect of chemotherapy.

Case Report: A 53-year-old woman was treated with combination chemotherapy of irinotecan plus cisplatin for a recurrent ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma. Steroid was also used for suspected interstitial pneumonia. After two cycles of treatment, she developed a colonic perforation. Emergency laparotomy was not performed because of poor performance status with multiple lung metastases, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Colonoscopy showed a perforated wall at the cecum, and a long tube with balloon was inserted for occlusion. In addition, a peritoneal drainage tube was inserted. Oral intake could be restarted for a while, but she died from tumor progression one and a half months after the diagnosis of perforation.

Conclusion: Non-surgical management with peritoneal drainage and ileus tube was useful in this case of colonic perforation for preserving oral intake and quality of life.