Pentastomiasis: case report of an acute abdominal emergency

A 34-year-old native women presented as an acute abdominal emergency at the Surgery Department, Missionary Hospital "Ad Lucem" in Banka-Bafang, Cameroon. She complained of colicky, epigastric abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and retention of flatus. At laparotomy, numerous small cystic nodules (3-8 mm in diameter) were noted in the mesentery and under the intestinal and parietal peritoneum. Histological examination of two of them revealed slightly enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes containing several parasitic pseudocysts. The parasites were diagnosed as well-preserved, encysted, Armillifer armillatus nymphs. Neither degenerative nor inflammatory granulomatous reactions were observed in the adjacent tissue. Two and a half years later, a similar attack of acute abdominal symptoms recurred. A radiological examination revealed several C-shaped or circular, dense opacities characteristic of calcified pentastomid nymphs. At laparotomy, local findings similar to those at the previous surgical examination were noted. Additionally, a few firm, whitish, calcified nodules were found in the mesentery and under the fibrous capsule of the liver.