Perforated carcinoma of the caecum presenting as necrotising fasciitis of the abdominal wall, the key to early diagnosis and management

Abstract

Background: Necrotising Fasciitis is a life threatening soft tissue infection which requires aggressive, early surgical management. Case presentation: We present a rare case of a retroperitoneal perforation of a carcinoma of the caecum presenting as a necrotising fasciitis of the anterior abdominal wall. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of early aggressive debridement to healthy tissue limits, the consideration of a rare underlying cause, and the scope for plastic surgical reconstruction in order that aggressive initial surgery can be adequately performed. © 2006 Marron et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.