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- Title
A rare case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis with nodules mimicking malignancy: approach to diagnosis and treatment.
- Authors
Ferrari, Paolo Albino; Grisolia, Antonella; Reale, Stefano; Liotta, Rosa; Mularoni, Alessandra; Bertani, Alessandro
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare zoonosis caused by the dog worm Dirofilaria spp., a parasite transmitted by mosquitos and resulting in peripheral lung nodules. The filarial nematode enters the subcutaneous tissue, travels to the right ventricle and dies causing a small pulmonary infarction that may embolize through the pulmonary vessels and may appear as a solitary nodule. These nodules are usually incidentally identified in asymptomatic patients undergoing chest imaging studies, and are generally interpreted to be malignant.<bold>Case Presentation: </bold>We present the case report of a human dirofilariasis in a patient with multiple pulmonary nodules resected using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). According to our literature review, this is the first case with double synchronous lung nodules reported in Italy.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Minimally invasive resection with histologic examination may be the best approach for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary dirofilariasis. Polymerase Chain Reaction testing may provide a more accurate etiological diagnosis in case of an inconclusive pathology result.
- Subjects
DIROFILARIA; PULMONARY nodules; LOBECTOMY (Lung surgery); LITERATURE reviews; LAPAROSCOPIC surgery
- Publication
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 2018, Vol 13, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
1749-8090
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1186/s13019-018-0750-5