Gastric foreign body granuloma resembling gastric cancer: a case report

Abstract

Fishbones are frequently swallowed by foreign objects that can penetrate the gastrointestinal tract. Nonetheless, it is quite uncommon for these fishbones to become lodged within the tract, resulting in the formation of foreign body granulomas that resemble submucosal tumors. When encountering this situation, it's important to consider differential diagnoses such as gastric intestinal stromal tumor, gastric leiomyoma, and gastric neurofibroma. We present a case of gastric foreign body granuloma that presents with dull aching epigastric pain. The patient gave a vague history of displaced intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD). Contrast CT and PET scan showed a gastric antral mass possibly a gastric cancer or a migrating IUCD. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) suggested a perigastric foreign body reaction due to the presence of a linear echogenic structure in between the markedly thickened gastric antral wall and the right lobe of the liver. EUS-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) revealed non-specific inflammatory reaction. Afterward, surgical exploration unveiled the cause of the mass as a foreign body granuloma caused by a perforating fishbone.