He TZ, Zhang GQ, Zheng BW, Zhang YW, Zhang L. Prevotella melaninogenica bloodstream infection in colon cancer combined with appendiceal abscess: A case report. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(9): 121271 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.121271]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Tian-Zhu He, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shengzhou People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), No. 666 Dangui Road, Shaoxing 312400, Zhejiang Province, China. hetianlook@126.com
Research Domain of This Article
Surgery
Article-Type of This Article
case-report
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He TZ, Zhang GQ, Zheng BW, Zhang YW, Zhang L. Prevotella melaninogenica bloodstream infection in colon cancer combined with appendiceal abscess: A case report. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(9): 121271 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.121271]
Tian-Zhu He, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Yuan-Wei Zhang, Liang Zhang, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shengzhou People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing 312400, Zhejiang Province, China
Bo-Wen Zheng, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: He TZ wrote the paper; He TZ and Zhang GQ designed the study; He TZ, Zhang YW, Zhang L collected clinical data; Zheng BW analyzed pathological materials; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Tian-Zhu He, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shengzhou People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), No. 666 Dangui Road, Shaoxing 312400, Zhejiang Province, China. hetianlook@126.com
Received: March 20, 2026 Revised: April 22, 2026 Accepted: June 2, 2026 Published online: September 15, 2026 Processing time: 159 Days and 3.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Colon cancer combined with appendiceal abscess is easily misdiagnosed clinically. Prevotella melaninogenica bloodstream infection is rare due to detection limitations.
CASE SUMMARY
A 60-year-old male was admitted with recurrent abdominal pain. He was initially treated for appendiceal abscess. During the second admission, high fever and severe inflammation occurred, and Prevotella melaninogenica was detected in anaerobic blood culture. He received anti-infection therapy and radical resection of right colon cancer. Postoperative pathology confirmed colon cancer with appendiceal invasion.
CONCLUSION
Refractory appendiceal abscess suggests potential colon cancer. Prevotella melaninogenica can cause severe bloodstream infection in tumor patients.
Core Tip: Refractory appendiceal abscess in adult patients should raise high clinical suspicion of underlying colon cancer, especially when conservative treatment fails. Prevotella melaninogenica, an anaerobic opportunistic pathogen, can cause life-threatening bloodstream infection in colon cancer patients. Timely pathogen detection and radical surgery are essential to improve patient prognosis and reduce mortality.
