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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Murine Ileocolic Bowel Resection with Primary Anastomosis
Published on: October 29, 2014
[Infantile intestinal fibrosarcoma. Case report with digestive bleeding in an infant]
Marina D Mathey1, Jéssica López Marti2, María J Zaratiegui3
1Servicio de Hematología y Oncología, Hospital de Pediatría SAMIC "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. mmathey.mm@gmail.com.
Insights
Infantile fibrosarcoma, a rare soft tissue sarcoma, can occur in the infant intestine. This case highlights its potential to cause digestive bleeding, necessitating prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare nonrhabdomyosarcoma, typically affecting infants and often presenting in the extremities.
- Intestinal involvement is exceptionally uncommon, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 5-month-old boy presented with persistent digestive bleeding and anemia, initially misdiagnosed as cow's milk allergy.
- Laparoscopic exploration revealed a small bowel mass, leading to surgical resection.
- Inadequate margins required a second surgery for complete tumor removal.
Findings:
- Histological examination showed spindle cells expressing vimentin.
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the ETV6-NTRK3 transcript, diagnostic of infantile fibrosarcoma.
- The patient experienced a favorable outcome with no recurrence at 24 months post-surgery.
Implications:
- Infantile intestinal fibrosarcoma, though rare, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained digestive bleeding in infants.
- Early recognition and surgical management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- This case underscores the importance of comprehensive diagnostic workups for persistent gastrointestinal symptoms in infants.
Abstract:
Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare tumor, belonging to the nonrhabdomyosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma. It is mostly presented in infants, most commonly involving the extremities. We report a 5-month-old boy, presenting with digestive bleeding since the age of 3 months, initially diagnosed as cow's milk allergy, with a torpid evolution and anemia. He underwent laparoscopic exploration, with evidence of a mass in the small bowel. Resection and end-to-end anastomosis were performed. Because of inadequate microscopic margins (< 1 cm), a new surgery was performed to achieve tumor free margins. Histological examination consisted of spindle cells that mainly expressed vimentin, and reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction was positive for the ETV6-NTRK3 transcript, confirming the diagnosis of infantile fibrosarcoma. The patient did well after 24 months of follow-up. Although infantile intestinal fibrosarcoma is extremely uncommon in children, it should be considered as differential diagnosis for digestive bleeding in infants.
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