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Hepatic granuloma resulting from Enterobius vermicularis
1Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
A liver nodule revealed a rare parasitic infection, hepatic oxyuriasis, caused by pinworm eggs and larvae. This incidental finding in a colectomy patient is only the fourth reported case globally.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Parasitology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Liver nodules are often incidentally discovered during abdominal surgeries for other conditions.
- Hepatic oxyuriasis, a parasitic infection of the liver by Enterobius vermicularis, is exceedingly rare.
Observation:
- A liver nodule was incidentally detected during a left colectomy in a 74-year-old male patient.
- The patient was undergoing surgery for a large villous adenoma of the colon.
Findings:
- Microscopic examination of the liver nodule revealed a granuloma.
- The granuloma contained numerous Enterobius vermicularis ova (pinworm eggs) and a nematode cross-section.
- This represents the fourth documented case of hepatic oxyuriasis worldwide and the second in North America.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of thorough histopathological examination of incidental liver findings.
- Contributes to the limited case data on hepatic oxyuriasis, aiding in understanding its presentation.
- Underscores the potential for parasitic infections to manifest in unexpected locations within the hepatobiliary system.