A case of sudden onset septicemia in recurred gastric cancer following S1 plus docetaxel treatment

Abstract

Pyogenic liver abscess in patients with malignant disease is a fatal state and is easily diagnosed. We presented a rare case of sudden fa-tal septicemia following anticancer treatment for recurred gastric cancer due to multiple liver abscesses which could not be diagnosed. A 72-year-old male with recurred gastric cancer received anticancer agents. He had a history of distal gastrectomy with right hepatic lobec-tomy for hepatic metastasis. He received anticancer treatment in the outpatient's service center periodically, and his performance status was preserved with nothing in particular. After administrating docetaxel, he suddenly developed septicemia and multiple organ failure and died 5 days after strong medical supports. Pathological autopsy revealed that multiple minute abscesses of the liver which could not be detected macroscopically were the causes of fatal septicemia. The etiology, therapies and prognosis of rare entity are being discussed. © 2013 by The Korean Gastric Cancer Association.