Thoracic Manifestations of Tropical Parasitic Infections: A Pictorial Review

Abstract

Parasitic infections are distributed worldwide and affect hundreds of millions of individuals-primarily those living in endemic areas or in regions with a high rate of immigration from endemic areas-causing significant morbidity and mortality. A broad spectrum of parasitic infections (eg, amebiasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, dirofilariasis, cystic echinococcosis, schistosomiasis, paragonimiasis) frequently affect the lungs, mediastinum, and thoracic wall, manifesting with abnormal imaging findings that often make diagnosis challenging. Although most of these infections result in nonspecific abnormalities, familiarity with their imaging features as well as their epidemiologic, clinical, and physiopathologic characteristics may be helpful to the radiologist in formulating an adequate differential diagnosis.

Hydatid disease of right ventricle and pulmonary arteries: a rare cause of pulmonary embolism—computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings (2009: 5b)

“…Most of the embryos lodge in the hepatic capilleries, some pass through the capillary system and lodge in the lungs and other organs. E. granulosus is the most common type of hydatid diesase in humans and is particularly seen in the Mediterranean region, Africa, South America, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand [3,7].…”

Case Report: Cardiac Hydatid Cyst

“…Hydatid disease is endemic in livestock raising countries with a 65 million is estimated to be infected [3,4]. Most common parasite seen in the Mediterranean region, Africa, South America and Middle East is E granulosus; however, E multilocularis is considered the main causative parasite seen in the polar region at the northernmost part of the earth (eg., Alaska, Canada) [4].…”

Role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of parasitic infections

“…The imaging findings outlined below correlate with the phases of infection (Figs 1 and 2) [1,4 && , [6][7][8]. CT is more sensitive for the detection of subtle findings such as pleural thickening, lymphadenopathy, and linear tracks in the lung parenchyma.…”