Liver abscess after microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma caused by Clostridium perfringens. 2022

Jiang Guo, and Changqing Li, and Xuesong Gao
Department of Interventional Oncology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Clostridium perfringens causes pyogenic liver abscesses, which are rare but rapidly fatal infections. These abscesses often occur in patients with immunodeficiency due to malignancy, liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, or organ transplantation. The identification of gram-positive bacilli in septicemia, the presence of gas-forming liver damage and intravascular hemolysis are manifestations of Clostridium perfringens infection. Clostridioides toxin A hydrolyzes phospholipids in erythrocyte membranes, causing spherocytosis and subsequent intravascular hemolysis, resulting in rapid deterioration and a high mortality rate. A 62-year-old man with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma complained of a high fever and abdominal pain one day after microwave ablation. Abdominal computed tomography revealed gas-containing lesions in the liver. His condition was complicated with massive hemolysis. Laboratory examinations revealed low hemoglobin, high serum lactate dehydrogenase, and elevated indirect bilirubin levels, suggesting massive intravascular hemolysis. Although aggressive treatment was applied, he died within 16 hours after onset of the infection. After the patient died, a blood culture indicated Clostridium perfringens positivity. Clostridium perfringens-induced septicemia with massive hemolysis is rare but rapidly leads to a severe prognosis. It is important to identify Clostridium perfringens infection early and initiate effective treatment, especially abscess aspiration, which should be performed as soon as possible.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008100 Liver Abscess Solitary or multiple collections of PUS within the liver as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents. Abscess, Hepatic,Abscess, Liver,Abscesses, Hepatic,Abscesses, Liver,Hepatic Abscess,Hepatic Abscesses,Liver Abscesses
D008113 Liver Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LIVER. Cancer of Liver,Hepatic Cancer,Liver Cancer,Cancer of the Liver,Cancer, Hepatocellular,Hepatic Neoplasms,Hepatocellular Cancer,Neoplasms, Hepatic,Neoplasms, Liver,Cancer, Hepatic,Cancer, Liver,Cancers, Hepatic,Cancers, Hepatocellular,Cancers, Liver,Hepatic Cancers,Hepatic Neoplasm,Hepatocellular Cancers,Liver Cancers,Liver Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Hepatic,Neoplasm, Liver
D008297 Male Males
D008872 Microwaves That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the UHF (ultrahigh frequency) radio waves and extending into the INFRARED RAYS frequencies. EHF Waves,Extremely High Frequency Radio Waves,Micro Wave,Micro Waves,Ultrahigh Frequency Waves,Microwave Radiation,EHF Wave,Micro Waves,Microwave,Microwave Radiations,Radiation, Microwave,Ultrahigh Frequency Wave,Wave, EHF,Wave, Micro,Wave, Ultrahigh Frequency,Waves, Micro
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003015 Clostridium Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus CLOSTRIDIUM and closely related CLOSTRIDIOIDES species. Clostridioides Infections,Clostridioides difficile Infection,Clostridioides perfringens Food Poisoning,Clostridioides perfringens Infections,Clostridioides sordellii Infection,Clostridium difficile Infections,Clostridium sordellii Infections,Clostridium difficile Infection,Clostridium perfringens Food Poisoning,Clostridium perfringens Infections,Clostridium sordellii Infection,Infections, Clostridium,Clostridioides Infection,Clostridioides perfringens Infection,Clostridium Infection,Clostridium perfringens Infection,Infection, Clostridioides difficile,Infection, Clostridioides sordellii,Infection, Clostridium,Infection, Clostridium difficile,Infection, Clostridium sordellii
D003016 Clostridium perfringens The most common etiologic agent of GAS GANGRENE. It is differentiable into several distinct types based on the distribution of twelve different toxins. Clostridium welchii
D006528 Carcinoma, Hepatocellular A primary malignant neoplasm of epithelial liver cells. It ranges from a well-differentiated tumor with EPITHELIAL CELLS indistinguishable from normal HEPATOCYTES to a poorly differentiated neoplasm. The cells may be uniform or markedly pleomorphic, or form GIANT CELLS. Several classification schemes have been suggested. Hepatocellular Carcinoma,Hepatoma,Liver Cancer, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinoma,Liver Cell Carcinoma, Adult,Adult Liver Cancer,Adult Liver Cancers,Cancer, Adult Liver,Cancers, Adult Liver,Carcinoma, Liver Cell,Carcinomas, Hepatocellular,Carcinomas, Liver Cell,Cell Carcinoma, Liver,Cell Carcinomas, Liver,Hepatocellular Carcinomas,Hepatomas,Liver Cancers, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017809 Fatal Outcome Death resulting from the presence of a disease in an individual, as shown by a single case report or a limited number of patients. This should be differentiated from DEATH, the physiological cessation of life and from MORTALITY, an epidemiological or statistical concept. Fatal Outcomes,Outcome, Fatal,Outcomes, Fatal

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