An unusual abdominal wall mass in a child

Authors

  • Amalia Maria do Espirito Santo Souza Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Tomas Marzagão Barbuto Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Flávia Alessandra Freitas Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Nathalia Fernandes Vianna Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Carla Maria Costa Zanchetta Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Silvana Forsait Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Claudio Borba Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Alessandra Milani Prandini de Azambuja Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Lilian Maria Cristofani Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Vicente Odone Filho Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria

Keywords:

Ascaris lumbricoides, Abdominal mass, Abdominal tumor in children

Abstract

Abdominal tumors are one of the most common types of pediatric cancer. Therefore, they should always be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal masses. Here, we present the case of a child whose initial hypothesis of diagnosis contemplated this possibility. Later, it was demonstrated that the abdominal mass found was secondary to a common parasitosis. A 2-year old, moderately malnourished and pale white boy was referred with a history of a rapidly growing, well-limited, middle abdominal mass. The mass was 10 by 3 cm, hard and poorly movable, apparently involving both abdominal rectus muscles. A complete resection was performed, revealing an abdominal wall abscess, with intense eosinophilic proliferation, secondary to a local and intense reaction to innumerous Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. Extra luminal infestations with Ascaris, that usually form peritoneal granulomas have been previously described. However, neither external trauma nor fistula, that could explain the superficial presence of the eggs, was found. This description reinforces the relevance of infectious diseases within the differential diagnosis of abdominal masses, particularly in areas with high prevalence of parasitic infestations.

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Published

2017-01-01

Issue

Section

Case Report

How to Cite

An unusual abdominal wall mass in a child. (2017). Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 59, e16. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/131374