Successful percutaneous drainage of gluteal pyomyositis occurring after intra-arterial chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation

Pyomyositis, an unusual infection of large skeletal muscles, developed in a woman with a history of bulky stage IIIB cervical cancer. Three years prior, the woman had undergone aggressive neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy followed by pelvic irradiation. The overwhelming majority of pyomyositis cases is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Group B β-hemolytic streptococcus, an organism that rarely causes this infection, was isolated in this case. Although surgical drainage is the most common approach, successful percutaneous drainage was accomplished. Pyomyositis has only recently been reported in nontropical climates. The presentation, diagnosis, risk factors, and management of pyomyositis are discussed.