Abdominal CT scan findings of a child with hepatic fascioliasis: A case report on rarely reported emerging disease

Abstract

Fasciolosis is a zoonotic infection caused by trematodes fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantic, and humans are incidental hosts. Although infrequently reported in developed nations, it is common in developing countries. Few cases have been reported in Africa, specifically in Ethiopia. This article reports a case of a 4-year-old Ethiopian child who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. His complete blood count showed eosinophilia, and imaging demonstrated lesions at peripheral subcapsular parenchyma and central along the biliary tree. Serologic tests confirmed liver fluke infection with fasciola hepatica indirect hemagglutination test titer of 1/4000. Computed tomography imaging appearances of hepatic fasciolosis depend on the phase and course of the disease and should be considered in differential diagnosis of lesions along the biliary tree.

Keywords: Biliary phases; CT findings; Case report; Ethiopia; Fasciolosis.

Fig. 1

Axial noncontrast abdominal CT scan. Image A shows hypoattenuating branching type (green arrow) and hilar (red arrow) lesions. Image B shows a peripheral parenchymal lesion (yellow arrow)

Fig. 2

Postcontrast abdominal CT axial (A and B) and coronal (C) images: shows an enhancing hilar lesion (A: yellow arrow) which is continuous with the peripheral liver lesion (A: blue arrow). Biliary tree dilations and peripheral enhancement are demonstrated in image A (red arrow) and image C (yellow arrows). Peripheral parenchymal lesion in the posterior liver segment is shown in image B.

Fig. 3

Axial contrast-enhanced abdominal CT image showing hypo enhancing periportal confluent lymphadenopathies (green arrow).