Article Text
Abstract
Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) is a rare clinical entity, which can masquerade as the more common and lethal necrotising fasciitis. The authors present a case of PPG in a 65-year-old woman who underwent robotic abdominoperineal resection for low rectal carcinoma and returned 8 days postoperation for peristomal skin ulcerations and pain, accompanied by leucocytosis; thus, she was treated as per necrotising fasciitis and underwent surgical debridement. Thereafter, her wound continued to worsen despite conventional wound care with vacuum-assisted closure and demonstrated signs of pathergy. The case was referred to dermatology where a diagnosis of PPG was made. This case report presents a cautionary tale for fellow clinicians, highlights the diagnostic challenge, and presents an updated literature review on diagnosis and management of this unique condition.
- inflammatory bowel disease
- colon cancer
- gastrointestinal surgery
- dermatology
- medical-surgical nursing
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Footnotes
Contributors CC, PP and ES-AY had equal contributions to this paper.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.