Clostridium septicum myonecrosis and ovarian cancer: A case report and review of literature

A case report of lethal distant myonecrosis with gas gangrene is presented. Cultures from blood and suppuration of our patient revealed Clostridium se pticum. At obduction the patient appeared to have a necrotic metastasis of a known ovarian carcinoma in the cecum wall. Predisposing conditions for th is type of infection are hematologic malignancies, colon carcinoma, neutrop enia, diabetes mellitus, and disruption of the bowel mucosa. Clostridium se pticum is highly associated with the presence of a malignancy, either known or occult at the time infection occurs. Occult tumors are mostly situated in the cecal area of the bowel. Clinical symptoms of the syndrome and thera peutic options are discussed. (C) 1999 Academic Press.