Pyomyositis (PMS) is a primary infection of striated muscle. Recent scanty reports suggest that non-tropical PMS may differ from classical tropical PMS. To address this question, 12 cases of nontropical PMS seen at two hospitals between 1976 and 1992 were reviewed and an English-literature search of similar cases was conducted. Both the series and reported cases are pooled together and herein reported. The age distribution of the 97 patients showed 30-50 and 60-70-year peaks, with a 3:1 (male-female) ratio. Fever, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and muscle stiffness or inflammation were present in more than 75% of patients. Muscles of the thigh (54%), back (13%), buttock (11%), arm (9%), or chest wall (4%) were involved. Staphylococci (61%), gram-negative bacilli (16%), streptococci (12%), and fungi (2%) were isolated from muscle specimens. Human immunodeficiency virus infection, diabetes mellitus, hemopoietic disorders, and other conditions with defective neutrophil function were present in 64 patients (66%). Drainage of pus and antibiotic therapy were the standard treatments. The mortality rate reached 10%. Analysis of patients classified by the comorbid condition showed differences in age, causative microorganisms, clinical features, and death rate. It is concluded that several clinical presentations of nontropical PMS are at variance with that of tropical PMS.