Amoebiasis Can Mimick Cervical Carcinoma

1
Muhamad Rizal Hadi P., 2Yudha Nurdian

1Student,Faculty of Medicine, University of Jember, Indonesia

2Facultyof Medicine, University of Jember, Indonesia
Correspondence: Muhamad Rizal Hadi P,hmuhamadrizal@yahoo.com; 152010101011@students.unej.ac.id

Abstract
Background
Amoebiasis is a parasitic infestation caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebiasis is a one of the
commonest infectious disease in tropical developing countries, especially amoebic colitis and dysentery.
Amoebic liver abscess is also not uncommon and is usually observed in alcoholics. Transmission of
infestation generally occurs through the feco-oral route from contaminated water or food. Genital
amoebiasis is the rare presentation of amoebic infestation, which is reported in both men and women.
Possible modes of transmission include contiguous infestation from cutaneous involvement of the perianal
skin and vulva onto the cervix or a fistulous connection between the colon and genital tract. Sexual
transmission through oral and anal sex is also a proposed etiology. Predisposing factors that have been
recognized for genital amoebiasis in women include vulvovaginitis, rectosigmoid infection, perianal
trauma, sexual contact and poor hygiene. Cervical amoebiasis can sometimes present as a cervical mass
lesion, with or without ulcers, mimicking carcinoma. Diagnosis of cervical amoebiasis is mostly performed
by cervical smear, wet preparation, culture, or biopsy, and the first two are the preferred methods in endemic
zones. On histopathology, amoebic trophozoites are recognized as spherical to oval (15–20 mm diameter)
organisms that have a thin cell membrane and a single nucleus with a prominent nuclear border and
karyosome. Cervical amoebiasis generally responds notably well to treatment with metronidazole (750–
800 mg, three times a day for 5 days) followed by diloxanide furoate (500 mg three times a day) or
paromomycin (30 mg/kg three times a day) for 10 days to clear luminal trophozoites. Ideally, the patient's
sexual partners should be treated, as well.

Conclusion
Cervical amoebiasis can simulate malignancy in both the clinical presentation and clinical examination.
Accurate diagnosis also facilitates quick management of a patient; as this disease is an infective pathology
that can be easily treated by antibiotics.

References
Ahuja, A. and Bhardwaj, M. 2015. Cervical Amoebiasis Mimicking Cervical Carcinoma: A Rare
Presentation of a Common Infection. J. Infect. Public Health. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2015.11.015

Dhingra, K. K. Roy, S., Setia, N., Mandal, S. and Khurana, N. 2008. Amoebic Cervicitis Mimicking
Cervical Carcinoma: A Rare Presentation. Iranian Journal of Pathology, 3(1): 47-49.

Petri, W. A. and Haque, R. 2015. Entamoeba Species, Including Amebic Colitis and Liver Abscess. In:
Bennet, J. E., Dolin, R., Blaser, M. J. (Eds.). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of
Infectious Diseases, Eighth Ed., Vol. 1, Philadelphia: Elsevier. p. 3047 – 3058.