Abstract. The present study described the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented to the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (Changsha, China) with progressive abdominal pain, distention and diarrhea. These symptoms were diagnosed as the initial manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The presentation appeared as a common emergency medical case, which was eventually recognized as a CRC masked by this emergency symptom. This case highlights the fact that a correct diagnosis can be made by looking through the outward appearance to perceive the essence of the condition. Therefore, vigilant surveillance is of utmost importance in order to expedite prompt recognition and rapid management of this presentation of CRC.
IntroductionColorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in humans globally (1,2). In the United States, a report revealed that CRC incidence rates were lowest among Asian/Pacific residents, and highest in Alaska natives. CRC-induced mortality decreased by 34% in individuals aged ≥50 between 2000 and 2014, but increased by 13% among those aged <50 (3). Patients with CRC present with multiple symptoms that are commonly associated with the disease, including abdominal pain, fatigue (4), obstruction, perforation and bleeding (5). The medical literature associated with emergencies in patients with CRC is dominated by reports of obstruction, perforation, overt bleeding (6), and systemic inflammatory response subsequent to curative resection of CRC (7). To the best of our knowledge, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) has not been previously reported as the primary indication of CRC or other diseases. SIRS is the result of occult infection or sterile inflammation (8), and is characterized by multi-organ failure and increased mortality (9,10). A prompt diagnosis of underlying disease is necessary for early intervention and appropriate treatment. SIRS is associated with poor prognosis in patients with CRC (11,12). The present study described a patient with CRC that presented with SIRS as the early clinical indication without a history of chronic diseases.
Case reportA 68-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department of Changsha Central Hospital (Changsha, China) with worsening symptoms of abdominal pain late in the evening of June 1, 2015. These symptoms were accompanied by an urge to defecate 4 times/day, severe abdominal distention and vomiting, and a low-grade fever with a body temperature not exceeding 37.9˚C (normal range, 36-37˚C). Abdominal radiographs were performed to ascertain the cause of the symptoms (Fig. 1A). The patient was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and admitted to the hospital for the administration of 80 mg phloroglucinol intramuscularly. However, the symptoms were found to be exacerbated even after treatment. Bloody diarrhea was reported four times a day, and the urine volume decreased to a maximum of 100 ml in a 24 h period (normal range, 1,000-2,000 ml in a 24...