Rectal Cancer Presenting with Absceding Infection Due to Fusobacterium nucleatum

Pathogens. 2022 Sep 28;11(10):1113. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11101113.

Abstract

Intestinal microbiota such as Fusobacterium nucleatum play an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Here, we describe the case of a 47-year-old patient presenting with endophthalmitis and a liver abscess due to Fusobacterium nucleatum that prompted the diagnosis of colorectal cancer as the most likely source of infection. This case highlights that colorectal cancer needs to be considered in patients with systemic infection with Fusobacterium nucleatum and colonoscopy should be performed.

Keywords: Fusobacterium nucleatum; endophthalmitis; liver abscess; rectal cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

We acknowledge financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg within the funding programme “Open Access Publication Funding”.