Gastric Basidiobolomycosis masquerading as a malignancy in a child

Abstract

Fungal infections in immunocompetent children are very rare, especially when they occur in the stomach. In this case report we present a 10year old boy who presented with an abdominal pain and on radiological investigations had a diffuse gastric mass. It was suspected to be a gastric malignancy and biopsied. The gastric biopsy on histology showed fungi with necrotic granuloma and eosinophils. This fungus is Basidiobolomycosis which occurs in subcutaneous tissue.This can occur rarely in the gastrointestinal tract. If a child presents with systemic symptoms and an intestinal mass, knowledge of this condition presenting as a mass can help in early diagnosis. It is an emerging infection that might lead to diagnostic confusion and delay. This disease is a very treatable condition with excellent outcome.