Non-traumatic gas gangrene presenting as left buttock and thigh pain in a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
We report a case of Clostridium septicum myonecrosis in a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy. This is a rare but important differential diagnosis in patients with known malignancy presenting with acute pain. It is critical that the diagnosis is considered and confirmed promptly due to rapid deterioration and a potentially fatal outcome in the absence of aggressive treatment.
Department of Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Derby, UK. darrenleaning@hotmail.com
Darren James
DJ
Leaning
Lynne
L
Dixon
P
P
Fisher
D002081:Buttocks; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D052557:Clostridium septicum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D013848:Thigh