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Concomitant ectopic Enterobius vermicularis infection in uterine cervical cancer
Iztok Takač1,2, Rajko Kavalar3, Matija Rudolf Lovrec2
1Division for Gynecology and Perinatology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska ul. 5, Maribor, 2000, Slovenia.
Insights
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infestation, though rare, can affect the female genital tract. Consider pinworms in gynecological disorders with inflammation, especially after cervical cancer surgery.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Parasitology
- Oncology
Background:
- Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) is a common intestinal parasite, primarily affecting children.
- Pinworm infestation can extend to extraintestinal sites, including the female reproductive tract.
- Symptoms range from asymptomatic to various gynecological issues like vaginitis or pelvic inflammation.
Observation:
- A case of a patient treated for invasive cervical cancer is presented.
- Enterobius vermicularis eggs were incidentally discovered in the cervix during surgery.
Findings:
- The presence of pinworm eggs in the cervix was an incidental finding during oncological surgery.
- Histological examination revealed granulomatous inflammation associated with the parasite.
Implications:
- Enterobius vermicularis infestation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gynecological disorders.
- This is particularly relevant when granulomatous inflammation is observed histologically.
- The case highlights the importance of considering parasitic causes in gynecological pathology, even in cancer patients.
Background:
Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis), also referred to as pinworm, is a widespread human intestinal parasite which predominantly occurs in young children, making their caretakers a population at risk for the transmission of this helminth. It can occasionally affect extraintestinal organs and tissues, including the female genital tract. Infestation can be asymptomatic or manifest as different kinds of gynaecological disorders, such as pelvic inflammation mimicking tumours, abnormal uterine bleeding, or vaginitis. Diagnosis is made by identifying ova in the sample collected from the perineal skin using a transparent adhesive tape or microscopic examination of resected tissue. Mebendazole is the first-line medication and should also be administered to all household members.
Case Presentation:
We present a case of a patient who had undergone surgery for invasive cervical cancer with an accidental finding of E. vermicularis eggs in the cervix.
Conclusions:
Although not very common, infestation with E. vermicularis should be considered in differential diagnoses of various gynaecological disorders accompanied by histological findings of granulomatous inflammation.
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