An Autopsy Case of Rapidly Aggravated Clostridium perfringens Septicemia with Colorectal Cancer

Figure 1

(a) Endoscopy at diagnosis showed a type 2 tumor in the hepatic curvature of the ascending colon. (b)–(c) Autopsy imaging shows gas retention in the tumor and metastasis of the liver and portal vein. There was also free air in the abdominal cavity, suggesting perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. (d) In the pathological autopsy, the foul-smelling gas was removed upon opening the abdomen, and the tumor area in the colon was perforated. (e) Numerous Gram-positive bacilli were found in the perforation of the colon tumor. (f) Numerous Gram-positive rods were found in the liver with gas production. (g) In the kidney, the fungus destroyed the glomerular appendages. (h) Gram staining of the blood confirmed Gram-positive rods.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)