A case of ectopic parasitism: Fasciola hepatica larvae burrow through a human brain and mimic cerebral aneurysm.
An 8-year-old boy from Xuan-Han County, Sichuan Province, China presented with 6 months headache, nausea and vomiting. A computed tomography scan revealed multiple cerebral hemorrhages. Etiology of the cerebral hemorrhages was investigated by digital subtraction angiography, and cerebral aneurysm was entertained. Twenty-six days after his admission to the hospital, a flatworm emerged from the right eye of the patient. The worm was identified as Fasciola hepatica, based on the morphological characteristics of the worm.
Ying
Ma
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China.
Xiaosu
Hu
H
Wang
Bin
B
D000818:Animals; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007814:Larva; D007815:Larva Migrans / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000469:parasitology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000469:parasitology