Rarely the stomach may be invaded by pyogenic bacteria which produces phlegmonous gastritis. It is a bacterial infection of the gastric wall, most of ten caused by streptococci, .a.lthough staphylococci, pneumococci, Escherichia coli, or gas forming bacteria could he responsible. Phlegmonous gastritis generally occurs in middle aged male alcoholics with hypochlororhydria, and the lesion may be secondary to a bacteremia, or may arise in previ- ously ulcerated gastric lesions. It has usual clinical course of acute upper abdominal inflam- mation, with signs and laboratory evidences of peritonitis. Preoperative diagnosis is rare but can be made gastroscopically and radiologically if gas is present in the abscess. The majority of published cases has been diagnosed at autopsy and on occation at laparotomy. A case of diffuse phlegmonous gastritis diagnosed at laparotomy is reported here, briefly reviewing tl:e clinicopathologic features and treatment.