Septic pulmonary embolism associated with Fournier's gangrene: a case report

A 47-year-old man with diabetes visited our hospital complaining of high fever, nausea, and scrotal swelling with pain on 11 April, 2009. He was diagnosed with right epididymitis and given antibiotics. The scrotum ruptured by itself, and the inflammation rapidly spread to the right inguinal area on 19 April. We diagnosed him with Fournier's gangrene. The patient underwent right orchidectomy and debridement of the scrotal contents. Seven days after the operation, he developed a cough. A lung computed tomographic scan (CT) revealed bilateral pleural effusion and multiple nodular lesions. A septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) was diagnosed. We increased the dose of antibiotics and added a new one. After 10 days, a CT showed that the lesions had completely disappeared.