Related Experiment Videos
Endocarditis, pyrexia of unknown origin and occult abdominal malignancy
N G Kounis1, G M Zavras, G Soufras
1Department of Medicine, Agios Andreas General Hospital, Patras, Greece.
The British Journal of Clinical Practice
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Two patients with unexplained fever were diagnosed with colon cancer and Escherichia coli infection. One also had endocarditis, suggesting a potential link between these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Pyrexia of unknown origin (FUO) can present with diverse underlying pathologies.
- Carcinoma of the caecum typically manifests with gastrointestinal symptoms, but can present atypically.
- Escherichia coli bacteremia and endocarditis are serious infections requiring prompt diagnosis.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with FUO and were diagnosed with caecal carcinoma.
- Both patients had positive blood cultures for Escherichia coli.
- One patient was diagnosed with endocarditis via echocardiography.
Findings:
- Escherichia coli bacteremia in patients with caecal carcinoma.
- Co-occurrence of endocarditis and caecal carcinoma.
- Absence of typical gastrointestinal symptoms in these cases.
Implications:
- This rare association between caecal carcinoma and Escherichia coli infection warrants further investigation.
- A potential common pathogenetic basis for these conditions cannot be ruled out.
- Highlights the importance of considering malignancy in FUO cases with unusual infections.