Postoperative Pyoderma Gangrenosum: Rare Infection Mimic and Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report.
Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that can occur in the postoperative period, often mimicking surgical site infections (SSIs). The clinical overlap between PG and SSIs – including erythema, wound dehiscence, and purulent discharge – makes timely diagnosis challe...
| Published in: | Visceral Medicine Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 92 - 96 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | case study pictorial tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Karger AG
2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=193060299&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 193060299 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 22974725 KAU3 jtl: Visceral Medicine issn: 22974725 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: 2026 vid: 42 iid: 2 pid: 2485 pub: Karger AG artinfo: ui: 193060299 193060299 193060299 10.1159/000550349 193060299 ppf: 92 ppct: 4 formats: tig: atl: Postoperative Pyoderma Gangrenosum: Rare Infection Mimic and Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report. aug: au: Aldarwish, Saeed Schafmayer, Clemens Hinz, Sebastian affil: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany sug: subj: Pyoderma Gangrenosum Diagnosis Postoperative Complications Diagnosis, Differential Pyoderma Gangrenosum Drug Therapy Surgical Wound Infection Wound Healing Biopsy Pyoderma Gangrenosum Physiopathology Microbial Culture and Sensitivity Tests Tomography, X-Ray Computed Adrenal Cortex Hormones Therapeutic Use Immunosuppression Wound Care Transferases Therapeutic Use Autoimmune Diseases Surgical Wound Dehiscence Necrosis Inflammation Dermatology Hematologic Tests NF-kappa B Blood cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway Phenotype Tumor Necrosis Factor Blood Interleukins Blood ab: Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that can occur in the postoperative period, often mimicking surgical site infections (SSIs). The clinical overlap between PG and SSIs – including erythema, wound dehiscence, and purulent discharge – makes timely diagnosis challenging. Case Presentation: A 61-year-old female with a history of ovarian cancer and metachronous liver metastasis underwent an open left hemihepatectomy. On the fifth postoperative day, she developed erythema, wound dehiscence, and necrosis unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Wound cultures remained sterile. Dermatologic consultation and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of PG, characterized by dense neutrophilic infiltration and pyogenic folliculitis. High-dose corticosteroid therapy led to marked clinical improvement within 5 days, with full wound healing achieved by discharge. Conclusion: Postoperative PG should be considered in non-resolving postoperative wound complications with negative cultures and antibiotic failure. In this context, prior exposure to PARP inhibitors may be a biologically plausible cofactor through immune modulation; however, a causal link remains unproven. Early dermatology consultation and biopsy are essential to avoid harmful debridement and expedite immunosuppression. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: case study pictorial tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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