Frontiers in Pediatrics (Aug 2022)

Case report: Spindle cell neoplasm presenting as a spontaneous intestinal perforation in a term infant

  • Lauren T. Callaghan,
  • Anthea Lafreniere,
  • Anthea Lafreniere,
  • Ekene A. Onwuka,
  • Ekene A. Onwuka,
  • Ross M. Beckman,
  • Ross M. Beckman,
  • Jennifer H. Foster,
  • Jennifer H. Foster,
  • Norma Quintanilla,
  • Norma Quintanilla,
  • Charleta Guillory,
  • Charleta Guillory,
  • Timothy C. Lee,
  • Timothy C. Lee,
  • Lily S. Cheng,
  • Lily S. Cheng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.952023
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Spontaneous intestinal perforations in the neonatal population are mostly associated with low birth weight, prematurity, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Spontaneous intestinal perforation in the absence of these risk factors is extremely rare and should raise clinical concern for an underlying bowel pathology. Here we present a unique case of a normal-weight, full-term girl with spontaneous intestinal perforation due to a spindle cell neoplasm with a novel BRAF mutation and infantile fibrosarcoma-like morphology. Though rare, malignancy should be considered in the differential diagnosis for bowel perforation in an otherwise healthy, term infant as complete surgical excision can be curative.

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