Fish bone perforation mimicking colon cancer: A case report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Fish bone ingestion is common, but complications are rare.
• Complications often present with vague abdominal symptoms.
• Non-specific symptoms can lead to diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of fish bone perforation misdiagnosed as colon cancer.
• To emphasize the importance of considering fish bone perforation in differential diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 64-year-old female with a 2-month history of abdominal pain.
• Clinical evaluation and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen.
• Hemicolectomy with histological examination of the resected bowel.

Main Results:

• Provisional diagnosis of colon cancer based on clinical and CT findings.
• Histology revealed a fish bone perforation with an associated abscess.
• The patient's symptoms were caused by the fish bone, not cancer.

Conclusions:

• Fish bone perforation can present with symptoms similar to colon cancer.
• Clinicians should consider fish bone ingestion in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, even with advanced imaging findings.
• Early recognition can prevent misdiagnosis and guide appropriate treatment.