Premium
Sonographic findings of hepatic lesions in human fascioliasis
Author(s) -
Cosme Angel,
Ojeda Evelia,
Poch Montserrat,
Bujanda Luis,
Castiella Agustín,
Fernández Javier
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.10189
Subject(s) - medicine , echogenicity , fasciola hepatica , praziquantel , ultrasound , retrospective cohort study , radiology , ingestion , gastroenterology , pathology , schistosomiasis , helminths , immunology
Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the sonographic features of hepatic lesions in patients with fascioliasis to help determine the utility of sonography in diagnosing this disorder in patients from areas in which Fasciola hepatica infestation is endemic. Methods Seven patients with acute‐phase (hepatic) fascioliasis had been identified among a previously reported series of 37 patients with fascioliasis who had been evaluated sonographically at Donostia Hospital in San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa), Spain. The 4 men and 3 women ranged in age from 29 to 69 years (mean, 49 years). A history of ingestion of watercress had been confirmed in 6 of the patients. Results Sonographically, the hepatic lesions appeared as focal areas of increased echogenicity in the right lobe (2 cases), multiple nodular or irregular lesions of variable echogenicity, ranging from 5 to 25 mm in diameter, in both lobes (4 cases), and a single 6‐cm complex mass in the right hepatic lobe (1 case). Therapy with dehydroemetine, praziquantel, or bithionol resulted in complete remission, although 2 patients required an additional treatment cycle. One patient also underwent surgery. Conclusions Sonography can be useful in the detection and follow‐up of hepatic lesions in human fascioliasis and can facilitate the diagnosis of this condition, particularly in areas where it is endemic. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:358–363, 2003