Korean J Med.  2015 Dec;89(6):714-718. 10.3904/kjm.2015.89.6.714.

A Case of Toxocariasis in a Patient with Cecal Cancer Mimicking Hepatic Metastasis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National Universtiy Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. drwookyun@jnu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Chonnam National Universtiy Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pathology, Chonnam National Universtiy Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a common helminth infection and the most common cause of peripheral blood eosinophilia. The clinical presentation of liver toxocariasis is often confused with primary or metastatic hepatic tumors. Here, we report on a 52-year-old man admitted with cecal cancer and eosinophilia. Computerized tomography (CT) scans revealed multiple lesions with peripheral enhancement in the liver, and T1- and T2-weighted images revealed isointensity. The patient underwent right hemicolectomy and an exploratory laparotomy with a liver biopsy. Resection of the cecal specimen revealed an adenocarcinoma, while the liver biopsy revealed an eosinophilic abscess with no evidence of malignancy. A serologic test showed a marked increase in specific immunoglobulin G antibody concentrations against Toxocara canis and daily antiparasitic treatment with albendazole (800 mg per day for 7 days) was initiated. Follow-up CT scans indicated that all liver masses and eosinophilia were resolved.

Keyword

Toxocariasis; Hypereosinophilia; Cecal cancer

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Adenocarcinoma
Albendazole
Biopsy
Cecal Neoplasms*
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Follow-Up Studies
Helminths
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Laparotomy
Liver
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Serologic Tests
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Toxocara canis
Toxocariasis*
Albendazole
Immunoglobulin G
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