Rectal cancer presenting as Fusobacterium nucleatum pyogenic liver abscess: A case report

Introduction: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a non-spore forming, anaerobic, gram-negative bacteria usually associated with periodontal disease and rarely reported in association with pyogenic liver abscess. Although common symptoms of colonic cancer are well known, unusual infections may herald presence of such a cancer. Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia is an accepted diagnostic marker for occult colonic malignancy. Case Report: We report a 72-year-old Caucasian male patient who presented to us as an emergency with F. nucleatum hepatic abscess and was found to have a rectal cancer on further gastrointestinal screening. Literature search suggests no previous direct association of F. nucleatum with colorectal cancer. Conclusion: The hepatic abscess was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage and intravenous antibiotics followed by definitive surgery for his cancer at a later stage. A brief review of literature of association of pyogenic liver abscess and occult colonic cancer is presented.