Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Insights into Imaging
Published in: Insights into Imaging 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Acute Abdomen | Educational Review

Parasitic diseases as a cause of acute abdominal pain: imaging findings

Authors: Emre Ünal, Sevtap Arslan, Mehmet Ruhi Onur, Erhan Akpinar

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Acute abdominal pain can be seen in cases with parasitic diseases delivered to emergency departments. The diagnosis of the parasitic disease can be delayed because of the similar clinical signs encountered in other frequently seen causes of acute abdomen. Nevertheless, the features detected in imaging scans can be helpful in the diagnosis. The present study aims to raise awareness about abdominal parasitosis in emergency conditions and also to underline the association between imaging findings and the life cycle of parasites with illustrative cases.
Literature
1.
Torgerson PR, Devleesschauwer B, Praet N et al (2015) World Health Organization estimates of the global and regional disease burden of 11 foodborne parasitic diseases, 2010: A Data Synthesis. PLoS Med 12:e1001920PubMedPubMedCentral
2.
Ortega CD, Ogawa NY, Rocha MS et al (2010) Helminthic diseases in the abdomen: an epidemiologic and radiologic overview. Radiographics 30:253–267PubMed
3.
Catalano OA, Sahani DV, Forcione DG et al (2009) Biliary infections: spectrum of imaging findings and management. Radiographics 29:2059–2080PubMed
4.
5.
Grosso G, Gruttadauria S, Biondi A, Marventano S, Mistretta A (2012) Worldwide epidemiology of liver hydatidosis including the Mediterranean area. World J Gastroenterol 18:1425–1437PubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Baumann S, Shi R, Liu W et al (2019) Worldwide literature on epidemiology of human alveolar echinococcosis: a systematic review of research published in the twenty-first century. Infection 47:703–727PubMed
7.
Mas-Coma MS, Esteban JG, Bargues MD (1999) Epidemiology of human fascioliasis: a review and proposed new classification. Bull World Health Organ 77:340–346PubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Pullan RL, Brooker SJ (2012) The global limits and population at risk of soil-transmitted helminth infections in 2010. Parasit Vectors 5:81PubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Macpherson CN (2013) The epidemiology and public health importance of toxocariasis: a zoonosis of global importance. Int J Parasitol 43:999–1008PubMed
10.
Ale A, Victor B, Praet N et al (2014) Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Taenia asiatica: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 7:45PubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Trevisan C, Sotiraki S, Laranjo-Gonzalez M et al (2018) Epidemiology of taeniosis/cysticercosis in Europe, a systematic review: eastern Europe. Parasit Vectors 11:569PubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Rajshekhar V, Joshi DD, Doanh NQ, van De N, Xiaonong Z (2003) Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis in Asia: epidemiology, impact and issues. Acta Trop 87:53–60PubMed
13.
Shirley DT, Farr L, Watanabe K, Moonah S (2018) A review of the global burden, new diagnostics, and current therapeutics for amebiasis. Open Forum Infect Dis; 5:ofy161
14.
15.
Autino B, Noris A, Russo R, Castelli F (2012) Epidemiology of malaria in endemic areas. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 4:e2012060PubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Georgiadou SP, Makaritsis KP, Dalekos GN (2015) Leishmaniasis revisited: Current aspects on epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. J Transl Int Med 3:43–50PubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Stark D, Barratt J, Roberts T, Marriott D, Harkness J, Ellis J (2010) A review of the clinical presentation of dientamoebiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 82:614–619PubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Carnero PR, Mateo PH, Martín-Garre S, Pérez ÁG, Del Campo LJ (2017) Unexpected hosts: imaging parasitic diseases. Insights Imaging 8:101–125
19.
Parashari UC, Upadhyay D, Khanduri S, Qayyum FA, Bhadury S (2011) Primary renal hydatidosis with associated macroscopic hydatiduria--a computed tomography urography diagnosis with pathological confirmation. Trop Doct 41:187–189PubMed
20.
Polat P, Kantarci M, Alper F, Suma S, Koruyucu MB, Okur A (2003) Hydatid disease from head to toe. Radiographics 23:475–494 quiz 536-477PubMed
21.
Pedrosa I, Saiz A, Arrazola J, Ferreiros J, Pedrosa CS (2000) Hydatid disease: radiologic and pathologic features and complications. Radiographics 20:795–817PubMed
22.
Gharbi HA, Hassine W, Brauner MW, Dupuch K (1981) Ultrasound examination of the hydatic liver. Radiology 139:459–463PubMed
23.
WHO Informal Working Group (2003) International classification of ultrasound images in cystic echinococcosis for application in clinical and field epidemiological settings. Acta Trop 85:253–261
24.
Akhan O, Ozmen MN, Dincer A, Sayek I, Gocmen A (1996) Liver hydatid disease: long-term results of percutaneous treatment. Radiology 198:259–264PubMed
25.
Akhan O, Salik AE, Ciftci T, Akinci D, Islim F, Akpinar B (2017) Comparison of long-term results of percutaneous treatment techniques for hepatic cystic echinococcosis types 2 and 3b. AJR Am J Roentgenol 208:878–884PubMed
26.
Marrone G, Crino F, Caruso S et al (2012) Multidisciplinary imaging of liver hydatidosis. World J Gastroenterol 18:1438–1447PubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Antonopoulos P, Tavernaraki K, Charalampopoulos G, Constantinidis F, Petroulakis A, Drossos C (2008) Hydatid hepatic cysts rupture into the biliary tract, the peritoneal cavity, the thoracic cavity and the hepatic subcapsular space: specific computed tomography findings. Abdom Imaging 33:294–300PubMed
28.
Alghofaily KA, Saeedan MB, Aljohani IM et al (2017) Hepatic hydatid disease complications: review of imaging findings and clinical implications. Abdom Radiol (NY) 42:199–210
29.
Derici H, Tansug T, Reyhan E, Bozdag AD, Nazli O (2006) Acute intraperitoneal rupture of hydatid cysts. World J Surg 30:1879–1883 discussion 1884-1875PubMed
30.
Czermak BV, Unsinn KM, Gotwald T et al (2001) Echinococcus multilocularis revisited. AJR Am J Roentgenol 176:1207–1212PubMed
31.
Kusaslan R, Sahin DA, Belli AK, Dilek ON (2007) Rupture of a mesenteric hydatid cyst: a rare cause of acute abdomen. Can J Surg 50:E3–E4PubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Mandell G, Dolin R, Bennett J (2019) Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious diseases, 9th edn. Elsevier, chapter 288:3459–3460
33.
Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA (2005) Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses. Int J Parasitol 35:1255–1278PubMed
34.
Lim JH, Mairiang E, Ahn GH (2008) Biliary parasitic diseases including clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis and fascioliasis. Abdom Imaging 33:157–165PubMed
35.
Dusak A, Onur MR, Cicek M, Firat U, Ren T, Dogra VS (2012) Radiological imaging features of Fasciola hepatica infection—a pictorial review. J Clin Imaging Sci; 2:2
36.
Koc Z, Ulusan S, Tokmak N (2009) Hepatobiliary fascioliasis: imaging characteristics with a new finding. Diagn Interv Radiol 15:247–251PubMed
37.
Lim JH, Kim SY, Park CM (2007) Parasitic diseases of the biliary tract. AJR Am J Roentgenol 188:1596–1603PubMed
38.
Kabaalioglu A, Ceken K, Alimoglu E et al (2007) Hepatobiliary fascioliasis: sonographic and CT findings in 87 patients during the initial phase and long-term follow-up. AJR Am J Roentgenol 189:824–828PubMed
39.
Han JK, Jang HJ, Choi BI et al (1999) Experimental hepatobiliary fascioliasis in rabbits: a radiology-pathology correlation. Invest Radiol 34:99–108PubMed
40.
Fica A, Dabanch J, Farias C, Castro M, Jercic MI, Weitzel T (2012) Acute fascioliasis—clinical and epidemiological features of four patients in Chile. Clin Microbiol Infect 18:91–96PubMed
41.
Riedtmann HJ, Obeid T, Aeberhard P, Sakmann P (1995) Fasciola hepatica—a unusual cause of acute cholecystitis with cholestatic jaundice. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 125:1642–1648PubMed
42.
Sezgin O, Altintas E, Tombak A, Ucbilek E (2010) Fasciola hepatica-induced acute pancreatitis: report of two cases and review of the literature. Turk J Gastroenterol 21:183–187PubMed
43.
Echenique-Elizondo M, Amondarain J, Liron de Robles C (2005) Fascioliasis: an exceptional cause of acute pancreatitis. JOP 6:36–39PubMed
44.
Park MS, Kim KW, Ha HK, Lee DH (2008) Intestinal parasitic infection. Abdom Imaging 33:166–171PubMed
45.
Khuroo MS, Zargar SA, Mahajan R (1990) Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis in India. Lancet 335:1503–1506PubMed
46.
Kenamond CA, Warshauer DM, Grimm IS (2006) Best cases from the AFIP: Ascaris pancreatitis. Radiographics 26:1567–1570PubMed
47.
Darlington Cd Mbbs MS, Anitha Gfs Mbbs MD (2018) Ascaridial volvulus: an uncommon cause of ileal perforation. Iran J Med Sci 43:432–435PubMedPubMedCentral
48.
Das CJ, Kumar J, Debnath J, Chaudhry A (2007) Imaging of ascariasis. Australas Radiol 51:500–506PubMed
49.
Lynser D, Handique A, Daniala C, Phukan P, Marbaniang E (2015) Sonographic images of hepato-pancreatico-biliary and intestinal ascariasis: A pictorial review. Insights Imaging 6:641–646PubMedPubMedCentral
50.
Zammarchi L, Strohmeyer M, Bartalesi F et al (2013) Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011. PLoS One 8:e69537PubMedPubMedCentral
51.
Bekraki A, Hanna K (2016) Peritonitis caused by jejunal perforation with Taenia saginata: report of a case. J Parasit Dis 40:203–204PubMed
52.
Hakeem SY, Rashid A, Khuroo S, Bali RS (2012) Taenia saginata: a rare cause of gall bladder perforation. Case Rep Surg 2012:572484PubMedPubMedCentral
53.
Liu YM, Bair MJ, Chang WH, Lin SC, Chan YJ (2005) Acute pancreatitis caused by tapeworm in the biliary tract. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73:377–380PubMed
54.
Chakrabarti I, Gangopadhyay M, Bandopadhyay A, Das NK (2014) A rare case of gangrenous appendicitis by eggs of Taenia species. J Parasit Dis 38:135–137PubMed
55.
Yu HJ, Ahn CS, Lim S et al (2019) Biliary taeniasis with cholecystitis: an unusual case of Taenia solium infection with a literature review. Am J Trop Med Hyg 100:135–139PubMed
56.
Fabijanic D, Giunio L, Ivani N, Fabijanic A, Miric D, Kardum D (2001) Ultrasonographic appearance of colon taeniasis. J Ultrasound Med 20:275–277PubMed
57.
58.
Salles JM, Salles MJ, Moraes LA, Silva MC (2007) Invasive amebiasis: an update on diagnosis and management. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 5:893–901PubMed
59.
Chaturvedi R, Gupte PA, Joshi AS (2015) Fulminant amoebic colitis: a clinicopathological study of 30 cases. Postgrad Med J 91:200–205PubMed
60.
Kim EM, Cho HJ, Cho CR, Kwak YG, Kim MY, Cho YK (2010) Abdominal computed tomography findings of malaria infection with Plasmodium vivax. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83:1202–1205PubMedPubMedCentral
61.
Sowunmi A, Ogundahunsi OA, Falade CO, Gbotosho GO, Oduola AM (2000) Gastrointestinal manifestations of acute falciparum malaria in children. Acta Trop 74:73–76PubMed
62.
Bhandari TR, Shahi S, Poudel R, Chaudhary N (2016) A child with severe malaria presenting with acute surgical abdomen (Duodenal Perforation). Case Rep Pediatr 2016:3092130PubMedPubMedCentral
63.
64.
Tonolini M, Ierardi AM, Carrafiello G (2016) Atraumatic splenic rupture, an underrated cause of acute abdomen. Insights Imaging 7:641–646PubMedPubMedCentral
65.
Elzein F, Mohammed N, Ali N, Bahloul A, Albadani A, Alsherbeeni N (2017) Pulmonary manifestation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: case reports and review of the literature. Respir Med Case Rep 22:83–86PubMedPubMedCentral
66.
Taylor WRJ, Hanson J, Turner GDH, White NJ, Dondorp AM (2012) Respiratory manifestations of malaria. Chest 142:492–505PubMed
67.
Rovira RE, Diaz-Gomez JR, Lapuebla X, Aguar MC (2005) [Spontaneous rupture of the spleen in a patient with visceral leishmaniasis]. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin; 23:327
68.
Torres-Guerrero E, Quintanilla-Cedillo MR, Ruiz-Esmenjaud J, Arenas R (2017) Leishmaniasis: a review. F1000Res; 6:750
69.
Keramati MR, Khooei A, Aelami MH (2013) Visceral leishmaniasis with massive hematemesis and peripheral blood involvement. Clin Lab 59:425–427PubMed
70.
Elsafi Ahmed Abdalla CEA, Ahmed AMF, ElGaddal ASA, Saeed A (2014) Ultrasound findings in patients with visceral leishmaniasis. International Journal of Medical Imaging 2:5
71.
Bukte Y, Nazaroglu H, Mete A, Yilmaz F (2004) Visceral leishmaniasis with multiple nodular lesions of the liver and spleen: CT and sonographic findings. Abdom Imaging 29:82–84PubMed
72.
Raeymaeckers S, Docx M, Demeyere N (2012) MRI-findings of nodular lesions in an enlarged spleen, associated with visceral Leishmaniasis. Eur J Radiol 81:2550–2553PubMed
73.
Vassalou E, Vassalos CM, Spanakos G et al (2016) First report of Dientamoeba fragilis infection explaining acute non-specific abdominal pain. Indian J Med Microbiol 34:106–108PubMed
74.
Yasunaga H, Horiguchi H, Kuwabara K, Hashimoto H, Matsuda S (2010) Clinical features of bowel anisakiasis in Japan. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83:104–105PubMedPubMedCentral
75.
Rodriguez Carnero P, Hernandez Mateo P, Martin-Garre S, Garcia Perez A, Del Campo L (2017) Unexpected hosts: imaging parasitic diseases. Insights Imaging 8:101–125PubMed
76.
Shibata E, Ueda T, Akaike G, Saida Y (2014) CT findings of gastric and intestinal anisakiasis. Abdom Imaging 39:257–261PubMedPubMedCentral
77.
Lalchandani UR, Weadock WJ, Brady GF, Wasnik AP (2018) Imaging in gastric anisakiasis. Clin Imaging 50:286–288PubMed
78.
Cwiklinski K, O'Neill SM, Donnelly S, Dalton JP (2016) A prospective view of animal and human Fasciolosis. Parasite Immunol 38:558–568PubMedPubMedCentral
79.
Gonzalo-Orden M, Millan L, Alvarez M et al (2003) Diagnostic imaging in sheep hepatic fascioliasis: ultrasound, computer tomography and magnetic resonance findings. Parasitol Res 90:359–364PubMed
80.
Despommier D (2003) Toxocariasis: clinical aspects, epidemiology, medical ecology, and molecular aspects. Clin Microbiol Rev 16:265–272PubMedPubMedCentral
81.
Chang S, Lim JH, Choi D et al (2006) Hepatic visceral larva migrans of Toxocara canis: CT and sonographic findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 187:W622–W629PubMed
82.
Lim JH (2008) Toxocariasis of the liver: visceral larva migrans. Abdom Imaging 33:151–156PubMed
83.
Kuenzli E, Neumayr A, Chaney M, Blum J (2016) Toxocariasis-associated cardiac diseases--A systematic review of the literature. Acta Trop 154:107–120PubMed
84.
Kinoo SM, Ramkelawon VV, Maharajh J, Singh B (2018) Fulminant amoebic colitis in the era of computed tomography scan: a case report and review of the literature. SA J Radiol 22:1354PubMedPubMedCentral
85.
Mortele KJ, Segatto E, Ros PR (2004) The infected liver: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics 24:937–955PubMed
86.
Stark D, Barratt J, Chan D, Ellis JT (2016) Dientamoeba fragilis, the Neglected Trichomonad of the Human Bowel. Clin Microbiol Rev 29:553–580PubMedPubMedCentral
87.
Vandenberg O, Peek R, Souayah H et al (2006) Clinical and microbiological features of dientamoebiasis in patients suspected of suffering from a parasitic gastrointestinal illness: a comparison of Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia lamblia infections. Int J Infect Dis 10:255–261PubMed
88.
Schwartz MD, Nelson ME (2003) Dientamoeba fragilis infection presenting to the emergency department as acute appendicitis. J Emerg Med 25:17–21PubMed
Metadata
Title
Parasitic diseases as a cause of acute abdominal pain: imaging findings
Authors
Emre Ünal
Sevtap Arslan
Mehmet Ruhi Onur
Erhan Akpinar
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Insights into Imaging / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-020-00892-5

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Insights into Imaging 1/2020 Go to the issue

Educational Review

Monogenic autoinflammatory diseases in children: single center experience with clinical, genetic, and imaging review

Educational Review

Neoplastic pathology at the crossroads between neck imaging and cardiothoracic imaging

Original Article

Consensus about image quality assessment criteria of breast implants mammography using Delphi method with radiographers and radiologists

Educational Review

Non-neoplastic hepatopancreatobiliary lesions simulating malignancy: can we differentiate?

Educational Review

Artefacts in contrast enhanced digital mammography: how can they affect diagnostic image quality and confuse clinical diagnosis?

Educational Review

Gastrointestinal perforation: clinical and MDCT clues for identification of aetiology