Hepatic involvement in larva migrans of Toxocara canis: report of a case with pathological and radiological findings.
Patients with the clinical syndrome of visceral larva migrans as a result of Toxocara species, have typical lesions in the liver consisting of granulomas that contain numerous eosinophils and often Charcot-Leyden crystals. This syndrome is rarely taken into account in patients with cholestatic syndrome, especially when hypereosinophilic reaction is absent. We report the case of a 47-year-old immunocompetent woman who presented with abdominal pain, in whom multiple focal liver lesions were discovered. She had come in contact with dogs. Diagnosis of toxocariasi was done. A good clinical response has been obtained by treating with thiabendazole. We present the findings of various imaging studies of the patient. This report shows that visceral larva migrans may be the cause of a chronic liver disease and should be suspected also in patients without fever and hypereosinophilia with cryptogenic cholestatic and focal liver lesions.
Leone
N
N
Department of Gastroenterology, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy. leone.nic@tiscalinet.it
Baronio
M
M
Todros
L
L
David
E
E
Brunello
F
F
Artioli
S
S
Rizzetto
M
M
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007815:Larva Migrans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000502:physiology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*