Occult Colon Cancer in a Patient with Diabetes and Recurrent Klebsiella Pneumoniae Liver Abscess

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a well-known leading cause of liver abscess in patients with diabetes, but recurrent Kp liver abscess in such patients within a period of time is seldom seen. Here, we report a patient with diabetes who experienced three episodes of Kp liver abscess within 1 year. The patient was subsequently diagnosed to have an occult sigmoid cancer. The liver abscess did not recur after resection of the colonic tumor. Occult sigmoid colonic cancer may have played an important role in the recurrent Kp liver abscess in our case. Therefore, further investigation of gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly of the colonic tract, is necessary in patients with diabetes and Kp liver abscess.

Keywords

• colonic cancer
• diabetes mellitus
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• liver abscess