Fournier's gangrene complicating aggressive therapy for hematologic malignancy

Abstract

The authors describe two cases of Fournier's gangrene complicating aggressive therapy for hematologic malignancies. Fournier's gangrene is a fulminant necrotizing fasciitis of the scrotum and penis, often with an infectious etiology. Only one prior case has been reported in a patient receiving aggressive chemotherapy for a hematologic malignancy. Unique to these three cases was profound granulocytopenia and the culturing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both the blood and necrotic perineal—scrotal tissue. Maintaining a high index of suspicion with early recognition and aggressive therapy may decrease the morbidity and mortality of this devastating and life‐threatening infection in the compromised host. Cancer 57:2291–2294, 1986.