title: Perforated carcinoma of the caecum presenting as necrotising fasciitis of the abdominal wall, the key to early diagnosis and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Necrotising Fasciitis is a life threatening soft tissue infection which requires aggressive, early surgical management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a rare case of a retroperitoneal perforation of a carcinoma of the caecum presenting as a necrotising fasciitis of the anterior abdominal wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case highlights the importance of early aggressive debridement to healthy tissue limits, the consideration of a rare underlying cause, and the scope for plastic surgical reconstruction in order that aggressive initial surgery can be adequately performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ulster Hospital Dundonald, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT16 1RH, Northern Ireland, UK. cdmarron@mac.com
authors.forename: Conor D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marron
authors.forename: Gerarde T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: Milind
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moorehead
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003082:Colectomy; D003646:Debridement; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps