When Infection Masquerades as Malignancy: Fatal Basidiobolomycosis Presenting as Suspected Rhabdomyosarcoma in a...

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Basidiobolomycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by *Basidiobolus ranarum*.
• Primarily affects immunocompetent children in tropical regions.
• Indolent presentation and radiologic resemblance to soft tissue cancers lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of pediatric basidiobolomycosis mimicking soft tissue sarcoma.
• To highlight diagnostic challenges and emphasize the importance of early detection.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 10-year-old child from Ghana with a 2-year history of abdominal mass.
• Initial computed tomography (CT) scan suggested rhabdomyosarcoma.
• Histopathology with PAS and Grocott stains confirmed basidiobolomycosis.

Main Results:

• The child presented with an abdominal wall mass, malnutrition, and respiratory distress.
• Laboratory findings included anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and marked eosinophilia.
• Histopathology confirmed fungal hyphae, indicative of basidiobolomycosis.

Conclusions:

• Basidiobolomycosis can mimic pediatric soft tissue sarcoma on imaging.
• Early clinical suspicion, eosinophilia detection, and timely biopsy are crucial for diagnosis.
• Timely intervention is essential to improve outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings.