title: Pneumoperitoneum and an acute abdominal condition caused by spontaneous perforation of a pyometra in an elderly woman: a case report.
abstract: Pyometra, a collection of purulent material in the uterus, is an uncommon gynecologic entity. Spontaneous perforation of the uterus is an infrequent complication of pyometra, most often the result of malignant conditions in the uterus. We report the case of an elderly woman who had an acute abdominal condition and pneumoperitoneum due to a ruptured pyometra resulting from a degenerative and infected leiomyoma. Although uterine disease is a rare cause of an acute abdominal condition and pneumoperitoneum in the elderly, a perforated pyometra must be considered in the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Medical Center, Inc., Savannah, GA 31403-3089.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Christy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rudolph
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology*; D013492:Suppuration; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014595:Uterine Perforation / Q000150:complications*; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000150:complications*