From sciatica pain to a complex diagnosis: a case of pyomyositis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

We described a case of a 50-year-old man who presented severe low back and leg pain that quickly evolved in severe septic shock. Clinical workouts led us to diagnose a rare condition as pyomyositis because of the identification of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia and multiple muscle collections. Although this rare condition rarely occurs in temperate climates, its prevalence recently increased and is often associated with an immunocompromised condition. In this case, the investigation of an immunological impairment revealed an underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.