Nematode infection of the liver mimicking metastasis of malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
The differential diagnoses of a circumscribed mass of the liver are varied. Especially if a malignant tumor, capable of setting metastases to the liver, is known in a patient's medical history, there might be difficulties in differentiating the tumor's entity. CASUISTRY: We report a case of a 40-year-old male with a history of malignant melanoma in whom follow-up investigations revealed a mass in the liver.


RESULTS
The histopathological and microbiological results, however, showed an infestation of liver tissue with nematodes. Malignant tumor cells could not be detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Roundworm-infections of the liver can present as lesions suspicious of being malignant. Therefore, along with e.g. microhamartoma, microabscesses and hepatocellular carcinoma, infestation with nematodes should be taken into consideration.
Maier
M
M
Department of Surgery, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Tappe
D
D
Töpfer
C
C
Rosenwald
A
A
Gassel
H-J
HJ
Timm
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology