Necrotising fasciitis secondary to a perforated hepatic flexure tumour - A case report

Necrotising fasciitis caused by a perforated colon cancer is a very rare occurrence and can be very life threatening needing urgent intervention involving tissue salvage and oncological treatment. There is not enough evidence in the literature regarding management of the same. This case report highlights one such case along with management principles.

We present a 66 year old male with 3 weeks of a progressive right lower quadrant lump and constitutional symptoms. He had a computed tomography scan demonstrating a complex collection in the right anterior abdominal wall, containing multiple locules of gas and air fluid levels near an abnormally thickened hepatic flexure. He was taken for an urgent debridement followed by laparotomy which demonstrated extensive abdominal wall necrotising fasciitis secondary to a perforated hepatic flexure tumour invading into the duodenum. He was given a diverting ileostomy. He had a relook laparotomy the next day for a right hemicolectomy and part of the duodenum resected with a refashioned end ileostomy. He was subsequently managed on the ward for two weeks and then discharged home. He remains well and has been referred to medical oncology for adjuvant chemotherapy.

A two step surgical approach was key in this case, first step for source control and the second step focused on an oncological resection.

This case explains the importance of excluding malignant causes of necrotising fasciitis. Perforated cancers can manifest as necrotising fasciitis and management should include timely debridement as well as oncological principles.