Gnathostomiasis of the colon simulating malignancy: a case report
Laohapand, T.; Sonakul, D.; Lolekha, S.; Dharamadach, A.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 64(4): 192-195
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 7252386 Document Number: 169757
A 51-yr-old woman was hospitalized because of a slow-growing mass in the right abdomen of 1 wk duration. Eosinophilia was noted. Ba enema demonstrated a filling defect at the hepatic flexure of the colon. The diagnosis of colonic carcinoma was made and the patient underwent right hemicolectomy and ileocolostomy. The resected specimen showed eosinophilic granuloma and eosinophilic abscesses. Two cross-sections of a worm with the characteristics of Gnathostoma were found in the bowel wall. The presence of abdominal mass with eosinophilia or the finding of eosinophilic granuloma of the gastrointestinal tract should arouse the suspicion of a parasitic cause, especially in Thailand.