TURKISH JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY									
									
										2011 , Vol 26 , Num 4									
								
								
								 
											        			
											        			Small bowel perforation due to bevacizumab therapy in metastatic colon carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature 
											        			
											        			
											        			 
											        					
											        					Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Onkoloji Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Tıbbi Onkoloji Kliniği, Ankara 
											        			
											        		
		
											        														        			
		
											        			 
											        				Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody which targets the vascular
endothelial growth factor molecule. It is indicated for
the treatment of recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer.
A 66-year-old woman was operated with left hemicolectomy
who had a tumor in the left colon causing a total obstruction.
Her tumor stage was IV (T3N1M1). 5-Fluorouracil, folinic
acid,irinotecan and bevacizumab chemotherapy was started to
the patient at the forty day of the colon operation. The patient
was hospitalized after first administration of the 5th chemotherapy
cycle because of febrile neutropenia. Abdominal pain began
although the neutrophil count was within the normal ranges.
The patient was operated with the diagnosis of acute abdomen.
A one centimeter sized perforation was seen at the ilial
loop which was 80 cm proximal to the ileocaecal valve. The
patient died 8 days after the operation. Although bevacizumab
is generally a well-tolerated agent, one must pay attention. 
											        			
											        			
		
											        			
											        			Keywords : 
											        				Bevacizumab; small intestine perforation; metastatic colon carcinoma 
											        				
											        	
 
	


