Pulmonary Sparganosis : A Case Report with Five Years
Follow-Up
ANAKAPONG PHUNMANEE, M.D.*, WATCHARA BOON SAW AT, M.D., Ph.D.*,
BENJAMARD INDHARAPOKA, M.D.*, CHERDCHAI TUNTISIRIN, M.D.**,
JURAIRAT KULARBKEAW,M.D.***
Affiliation : * Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine,
** Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery,
***Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
AbstractSparganosis has a world wide distribution, but only a few patients have pulmonary
involvement. The term sparganosis is defined as an infection by the larva of parasitic
tapeworms of Spirometra species. We present here-in a patient, who was infected by this
parasite and had pulmonary symptoms. The chest roentgenography revealed diffuse multiple
nodular infiltration with cavitations. Bronchoscopy with a transbronchial lung biopsy was
nondiagnostic. Finally, open lung biopsy was performed, and the histologic examination
revealed plerocercoid larva of sparganum. The patient was treated with mebendazole 40 mg/kg/
day for 6 months and his symptoms and pulmonary function improved. In the S'h year of
follow-up, he presented with more progressive dyspnea and developed cor pulmonale, and
finally died from pneumonia with sepsis.
The objective of this report was to present a rare manifestation of sparganosis and it's
clinical course. Currently, there is no known effective treatment for this disease.
Keywords : Pulmonary Sparganosis, Sparganum, Clinical Course
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