Sonographic Findings in Fascioliasis

Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography is an imaging method which, due to its relative economy, is becoming more widely available in regions of the world where fasciola hepatica infection occurs most frequently. In this report, we describe the sonographic findings of hepatic lesions in patients with fascioliasis to help confirmation of the sonographic characteristics of this disease and thus aid in its diagnosis.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 248 patients with confirmed hepatic fascioliasis of Guilan province were referred by internists and infectious disease specialists to private sonographic offices. Abdominal sonography was performed in supine and left decubitus positions using ALOKA 288 scanner and a 3.5 MHz transducer. Data was analyzed by SPSS 10.

Results: 112 cases (45.2%) had liver parenchyma involvement. Sonography showed lesions in gallbladder and biliary tracts in 34 (13.7%) and 17 (7%) cases respectively. There was coincident involvement of liver and biliary tracts in 13 cases (5.2%). It was shown that liver parenchyma is the place of the most involvement seen mainly in posterior segment of right lobe and periportal area.

Conclusion: Sonography can be useful in the detection and follow up of hepatic lesions in human fascioliasis and can facilitate the diagnosis of this condition, particularly in areas where it is endemic.