Adnexal fascioliasis masquerading as ovarian cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 2005 Oct;99(1):236-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2005.06.016.

Abstract

Background: Preoperative diagnosis of ovarian cancer is still problematic as multiple disease processes may present with pelvic mass. Fascioliasis is a parasitic disease producing unique clinical manifestations.

Case report: A 49-year-old female patient admitted to our hospital with the complaint of occasional abdominal pain. Pelvic examination revealed a right adnexal mass. Serum CA-125 level was elevated. Explorative laparotomy was performed with the initial diagnosis of ovarian tumor. Final diagnosis was adnexal fascioliasis.

Conclusion: In the setting of a newly diagnosed pelvic mass, care should be taken when interpreting an elevated CA-125 level. While ovarian cancer is high on the list of differential diagnoses, atypical clinical presentation of fasciola may give rise to a misdiagnosis of malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fasciola hepatica*
  • Fascioliasis / diagnosis*
  • Fascioliasis / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Ovarian Diseases / parasitology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis*