Multimodality imaging of pediatric ascariasis

Ascariasis is a prevalent intestinal helminthic infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, commonly known as roundworm. While the disease may remain asymptomatic when the parasites are confined to the intestinal lumen of the small bowel, symptoms and complications can arise when the helminths invade the biliary tree or pancreatic ducts. In cases of severe infection, a mass of roundworms can lead to intestinal complications, such as bowel obstruction. The morphological identification of Ascaris by multimodality imaging techniques plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, as well as in the monitoring and prevention of complications.