title: Fasciola hepatica infection: clinical and computerized tomographic findings of ten patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fasciola hepatica is the cause of liver infection, fascioliasis. Although rare, it is still a problem even in developed countries. In this study, the clinical and computerized tomographic findings of 10 patients diagnosed with fascioliasis are summarized.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of the patients with fascioliasis were retrospectively examined. Clinical, laboratory findings and computerized tomographic results were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abdominal pain, fever, eosinophilia and abnormal liver function tests were the most commonly encountered symptoms and signs. One patient was human immunodeficiency virus -positive with active tuberculosis. Serologic test for fasciola hepatica was positive in all patients. Nodular masses without prominent enhancement, and branching low-attenuated tubular lesions were the most commonly seen tomographic findings and were supportive for the diagnosis. All except the HIV-positive patient received bithionol therapy; six patients responded well, two lost contact with the clinic and one patient who was unresponsive to bithionol therapy received triclabendazole. During follow-up of the six patients who responded, all the clinical and radiological findings regressed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In any patient with peripheral eosinophilia, abdominal pain and elevated liver enzymes, especially when CT reveals tubular and nodular hypodense lesions particularly in subcapsular area, F. hepatica infection should be considered. Either triclabendazole or bithionol can be used effectively for the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. duyguyaks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Duygu Yazgan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Ulkü
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kerimoğlu
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oto
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ergüven
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Batman
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000980:Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001735:Bithionol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000980:Antiplatyhelmintic Agents; D001735:Bithionol