title: Spontaneous uterine perforation of pyometra. A report of three cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous perforation of pyometra is a rare cause of generalized peritonitis; only 17 cases have been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases of spontaneous perforation of pyometra occurred; two were associated with carcinoma of the cervix. All were treated with exploratory laparotomy and drainage. The first patient died of recurrent carcinoma of the cervix five months after laparotomy. The second patient died of septic shock shortly after the operation. The third patient made a good postoperative recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pyometra is a serious medical condition, because of both its association with malignant disease and the danger of spontaneous perforation, which carries significant morbidity and mortality. Although rare, ruptured pyometra should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in elderly women, especially those with malignant disorders of the genital tract. The treatment of pyometra rupture is immediate laparotomy, peritoneal lavage and drainage, or simple hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D014595:Uterine Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology