A 67-year-old man with castration-resistant prostate cancer associated with multiple bone metastases had been treated with zoledronic acid and docetaxel.
Although there was no evidence of damage around the right lower jaw bone, the patient complained of pain in May 2011, which worsened during the next 2 weeks and was followed by difficulty with breathing. Computed tomographic (CT) findings of the cervical area showed swelling of the cervical tissue with air and tightening of the trachea, suggesting cellulitis caused by gas gangrene. He was intubated and treated with antibiotics. On the 12th hospital day, CT scan revealed a pharyngeal abscess and we performed a drainage operation. On the 20th hospital day, bone of the intraoral lower jaw was exposed, revealing that the infection was caused by osteonecrosis. Additional CT findings showed the abscess extending to the mediastinum and multiple liver metastases. Although antibiotic therapy was continued, the patient died of liver failure on the 61st day.
Written by:
Soda T, Fukumoto R, Hayashi T, Oka D, Fujimoto N, Koide T. Are you the author?
The Department of Urology,Osaka Koseinenkin Hospital.
Reference: Hinyokika Kiyo. 2013 Sep;59(9):587-91.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24113758
Article in Japanese.
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