A rare complication of rectal cancer: gangrenous colitis - A case report

Zhi-chao Chen^1,*, Jie-fang Wang² and Yong-hua Lin³

¹Department of hepatobiliary surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China - ²Department of Imaging, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China - ³Department of hepatobiliary surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China

Background: Gangrenous colitis is s an acute inflammatory process. The purpose of this report is to describe an unusual case of rectal cancer in adult complicate with Gangrenous colitis, and treated with surgery. In the literature, the number of gangrenous colitis reported is quite limited.

Case presentation: A 55-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain complaints. According to the symptoms of peritonitis in this patient, we considered the possibility of carcinoma of the rectum with colon necrosis. Emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed and the pathological intestinal sections were resected. The pathology results of the postoperative specimens confirmed the diagnosis of rectal cancer with gangrenous colitis. 

Conclusion: Clinician awareness of this rare complication is important for timely diagnosis and treatment.