Helminthic infections mimicking malignancy: a review of published case reports

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases, including infections with helminths, can initially present similarly to malignancies. The goal of the article is to review reports of helminthic infections that are initially diagnosed as malignancy. Methodology: The database PubMed was searched for English language references published as of July 2009. Results: The following published case reports and case series, mainly from Asia and Africa, were identified: Nematodes: 8 publications (1 patient with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, 2 Stronglyloides stercoralis, 1 Toxocara species, 1 Dioctophyma renale, 1 Ascaris species, 1 Gnathostoma spinigerum, 1 Dirofilaria repens); Trematodes: 7 publications (46 patients with Schistosoma species, 2 Fasciola hepatica, 1 Paragonimus westermani); Cestodes: 6 publications (10 patients with Echinococcus species, 1 Sparganum mansoni). Conclusion: To avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment, physicians should be aware when diagnosing patients from Asia or Africa that a large number of helminthic infections can present similar to malignancies.

<i>Enterobius vermicularis</i> Infestation Mimicking Rectal Malignancy

“…Since our patient was suitable for endoscopic mucosal resection, there was no need for radical surgical resection. Not only E. vermicularis, but also some other nematode, cestode and trematode species have been reported to cause lesions mimicking malignancy (9,10,14,15). The most commonly reported are Schistosoma and Echinococcus species, respectively (9).…”

“…There are only a few case reports in the literature that E. vermicularis mimics malignancy (4,(6)(7)(8). Similarly, other helminths such as Schistosoma species, Fasciola hepatica, Echinococcus species and Ascaris species have been shown to cause lesions mimicking malignancy (9,10). In this case report we aimed to present a case of rectal polyp physical appearance of which met the criteria for malignancy but whose etiology was, in fact, found to be inflammatory and infective.…”

Gastrointestinal Neoplasia Associated with Bowel Parasitosis: Real or Imaginary?

“…Similarly, a number of reports may be found in the literature of parasitic infections that were found to simulate malignant gastrointestinal neoplasms (reviewed in [53]). Much more rare are reports of parasitic infections that present concomitantly with a first-time diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy, that could potentially speak to a carcinogenic role of the parasitic infection.…”

Food-borne zoonotic trematodes: devious old flukes in an urbanized, global village

“…Among the trematodes described, the major species implicated in human infection include; Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica occupying the bile ducts of mammalian hosts [5] REVIEW as well as Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini and O. felinius, as the three highly pathogenic trematodes that cause cancer of the bile ducts [6,7] . The principal fluke commonly associated with lung infection is Paragonimus westermani, among over 10 other species described.…”

“…The intestinal flukes also comprise over 20 different species infecting man and animals. The main species reported in human infection however are; Fasciolopsis buski, Heterophyes heterophyes and a few reported cases of Metagonimus yokogawai [7] . Schistosomiasis due to different species of schistosome trematodes is the only water-bone trematode infection in humans and animals.…”