Intestinal obstruction due to Taenia saginata infection: a case report

Surgical complications of Taenia saginata infection, the bovine tapeworm which man acquires by eating undercooked beef, are mentioned in standard texts; however, none of these seem to give any specific reference. Reported here is one case of acute mechanical intestinal obstruction due to a bolus impaction of Taenia saginata at the level of the ileocaecal valve. The rarity of this clinical presentation as well as the probable mechanism of obstruction are discussed.