Diphyllobothrium latum:A case of an incidental finding

作     者：Simon Lal A Hillary Steinhart 

作者机构：Department of Gastroenterology University Hospital Aintree Longmoor Lane Liverpool L9 7AL United Kingdom Department of Gastroenterology Mount Sinai Hospital University Avenue Toronto Ontario M5G 1X5 Canada 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Gastroenterology》 (世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2007年第13卷第12期

页      面：1875-1876页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100214[医学-肿瘤学] 10[医学] 

主　　题：Diphyllobothrium latum Colonoscopy Colorectal cancer screening 

摘      要：Colorectal cancer screening can be performed by fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema or colonoscopy. Colonoscopy has the significant advantage that polyps can be removed during the same procedure. Occasionally, colonoscopy can also reveal unexpected findings, including parasitic infections, even in asymptomatic patients. Tapeworms or cestodes are hermaphroditic parasites, which can live for considerable periods of time in the human gastrointestinal tract. Fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium species) are endemic in various parts of the world, the commonest species being Diphyllobothrium latum. Humans are the main definitive host for D. Latum and the majority of individuals harbouring the parasite are asymptomatic, while 40% of infected individuals may have low vitamin B12 levels. We describe a case of D. latum infection found on routine colonoscopic screening for colorectal cancer in an asymptomatic patient, which was successfully treated with praziquantel. The infection likely arose following raw fish (sushi) consumption.