Primary intestinal mold infection in children with solid tumors: a case report in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma, and literature review.
We report a case of primary intestinal infection due to filamentous fungi in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma. The clinical picture was that of peritonitis secondary to intestinal perforation and the diagnosis was established only on histopathological bases. This condition is very rare, and only one case of primary intestinal mold infection in children with solid tumors has been reported in the literature, although more records can be found describing similar conditions in other cancer patient populations (i.e. adults with solid tumors or children with hematological malignancies or patients receiving hemopoietic stem cell transplant). Clinicians must be aware of this possibility since only an aggressive medical and surgical approach can improve patients' prognosis.
Infectious Diseases Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Aldo
A
Naselli
Hematology and Oncology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Alberto
A
Garaventa
Surgery Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Piero
P
Buffa
Radiology Department, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Claudio
C
Granata
Laboratory of Analysis, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bandettini
Laboratory of Analysis, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Giuliana
G
Cangemi
Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Andrea
A
Moscatelli
Infectious Diseases Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Elio
E
Castagnola
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000150:complications*
Adolescent; Ewing sarcoma; Primary intestinal aspergillosis