Stercoral perforation of the colon in a heroin addict.
OBJECTIVE
Stercoral perforation of the colon is rare. Narcotics are well known to produce chronic constipation resulting in stercoral perforation, however, only one case of a heroin addict developing stercoral perforation has been reported.


METHODS
We present a case of a 67 year-old man with chronic heroin use and stercoral perforation requiring sigmoidectomy and Hartmann's procedure. Computed tomography was performed prior to exploration.


RESULTS
This is the first case of computed tomography findings, prior to laparotomy, that have been published for stercoral perforation.
D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male