Necrotising fasciitis caused by metastatic endometrial cancer: a rare cause of a life-threatening condition

• DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2016.0341
• Publication Date: 2016-11-21T14:31:10Z
• Authors: S Hendrickson; N Bystrzonowski; C Kokkinos; P Butler
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Psoas Abscess; Female; Fasciitis, Necrotizing; Middle Aged; Shock, Septic; Endometrial Neoplasms; 3. Good health

We report a case of necrotising fasciitis caused by metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. Metastases to the lumbar spine with local invasion to the iliopsoas muscle led to an iliopsoas abscess, which subsequently progressed to necrotising fasciitis of the flank. This patient lacked common risk factors for necrotising fasciitis. There are no previous reports in the literature of necrotising fasciitis with this aetiology. We discuss the available evidence for aetiology of and risk factors for necrotising fasciitis, and the relation of time to surgery with prognosis.