Figure 1
Teaching Case
SectionUroradiology & genital male imaging
Case TypeClinical Cases
AuthorsTeiga, Eduardo; Radosevic, Aleksandar; Bazan, Fernando; J.A Prat-Matifoll
Connected authors
57 years, male
A 57-year-old patient presented at the emergency room with a painful scrotal swelling and purulent urethral discharge. The patient was hypotensive. Examination showed extensive subcutaneous emphysema of the lower abdominal soft tissue and genital area. Furthermore, he explained self-insertion of a foreign object into the urethra 3 months before.
Fournier's gangrene
Cellulitis
Scrotal abscess with gas-forming organism
CT scan depicted soft-tissue thickening and inflammation with a coexisting abscess and subcutaneous emphysema secondary to gas-forming bacteria. The subcutaneous emphysema dissected along fascial planes and extended from the scrotum and perineum to the inguinal regions and abdominal wall. Large oval-shaped laminated calcifications of the self-introduced foreign body 3 months before were also clearly depicted.
Fournier gangrene (FG) is a urologic emergency carrying a high mortality rate when inappropriately managed. It is a rapidly progressing, polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, perianal, and genital regions, with a mortality rate ranging from 15% to 50% [1]. Fascial necrosis rate can be as high as 2–3 cm per hour; early diagnosis is therefore imperative. [2, 3].
The condition is relatively uncommon and usually found in middle-aged men [2], who are 10 times more likely to develop the disease than females [4]. FG's aetiology is identified in the vast majority of cases; 10% remain idiopathic [2]. It is commonly due to a local infection adjacent to a point of entry. Urologic sources include urethral strictures, chronic urinary tract infection, neurogenic bladder, instrumentation and epididymitis [5]. Main predisposing factors are diabetes mellitus, found in up to 40-60% [6] and alcohol abuse [2].
FG's common symptoms include scrotal swelling, pain, hyperaemia, pruritus, crepitus, and fever [7]. A foul-smelling discharge might be present. Symptoms' onset usually occurs over a 2–7 day period [8]. Crepitus is identified in no more than 19%–64% of patients [9]. Systemic findings include leukocytosis, dehydration, tachycardia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, hypocalcaemia, and hyperglycaemia [10].
Diagnosis is usually made clinically. Nevertheless CT plays a key role in patients in whom the diagnosis is unclear or when the extent of the disease is difficult to assess [11]. Findings include soft-tissue thickening and inflammation. The underlying cause, such as a perianal abscess, a fistulous tract, or an intraabdominal or retroperitoneal infectious process may also be demonstrated at CT [12]. The extent of fascial thickening and fat stranding seen at CT has been found to correlate well with the affected tissue at surgery [4]. CT is also helpful differentiating FG from other less aggressive conditions such as soft-tissue oedema or cellulitis and allows posttreatment follow-up of therapeutic response. Regarding MRI, it gives greater soft tissue detail than CT and is of value in patients who have advanced skin lesion [13].
Treatment is based on intravenous administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immediate and complete surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue [14].
In conclusion, FG is a rapidly spreading disease that represents a urologic emergency with a potentially high mortality rate. CT plays an important role in diagnosis and in the evaluation of disease extent for planning appropriate surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and complete surgical debridement of all necrotic tissue have been found to be the most important factors in improving survival [15].
The condition is relatively uncommon and usually found in middle-aged men [2], who are 10 times more likely to develop the disease than females [4]. FG's aetiology is identified in the vast majority of cases; 10% remain idiopathic [2]. It is commonly due to a local infection adjacent to a point of entry. Urologic sources include urethral strictures, chronic urinary tract infection, neurogenic bladder, instrumentation and epididymitis [5]. Main predisposing factors are diabetes mellitus, found in up to 40-60% [6] and alcohol abuse [2].
FG's common symptoms include scrotal swelling, pain, hyperaemia, pruritus, crepitus, and fever [7]. A foul-smelling discharge might be present. Symptoms' onset usually occurs over a 2–7 day period [8]. Crepitus is identified in no more than 19%–64% of patients [9]. Systemic findings include leukocytosis, dehydration, tachycardia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, hypocalcaemia, and hyperglycaemia [10].
Diagnosis is usually made clinically. Nevertheless CT plays a key role in patients in whom the diagnosis is unclear or when the extent of the disease is difficult to assess [11]. Findings include soft-tissue thickening and inflammation. The underlying cause, such as a perianal abscess, a fistulous tract, or an intraabdominal or retroperitoneal infectious process may also be demonstrated at CT [12]. The extent of fascial thickening and fat stranding seen at CT has been found to correlate well with the affected tissue at surgery [4]. CT is also helpful differentiating FG from other less aggressive conditions such as soft-tissue oedema or cellulitis and allows posttreatment follow-up of therapeutic response. Regarding MRI, it gives greater soft tissue detail than CT and is of value in patients who have advanced skin lesion [13].
Treatment is based on intravenous administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immediate and complete surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue [14].
In conclusion, FG is a rapidly spreading disease that represents a urologic emergency with a potentially high mortality rate. CT plays an important role in diagnosis and in the evaluation of disease extent for planning appropriate surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and complete surgical debridement of all necrotic tissue have been found to be the most important factors in improving survival [15].
References
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[11] Cameron JL (2004) Current surgical therapy. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Mosby
[12] Rajan DK, Scharer K (1998) Radiology of Fournier’s gangrene. AJR Am J Roentgenol 170:163–168 (PMID: 9423625)
[13] Kickuth R, Adams S, Kirchner J, Pastor J, Simon S, Liermann D (2001) Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene. Eur Radiol 11: 787-790 (PMID: 11372608)
[14] Thwaini A, Khan A, Malik A, et al (2006) Fournier’s gangrene and its emergency management. Postgrad Med J 82(970):516–519 (PMID: 16891442)
[15] Robin B. Levenson, MD, Ajay K. Singh, MD, and Robert A. Novelline, MD (2008) Fournier Gangrene: Role of Imaging. Radiographics Volume 28, Issue 2 (PMID: 18349455)
Case information
| URL: | https://eurorad.org/case/13993 |
| DOI: | 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.13993 |
| ISSN: | 1563-4086 |
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