The role of diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology in liver schistosomiasis: A case report of advanced disease

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by trematode worms, affecting multiple target organs (predominantly the liver and urinary system) and presenting in wide spectrum including both acute and chronic forms; potential risks include liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, urinary tract obstruction, hydronephrosis, bladder cancer and reproductive tract disease. Diagnosis is mainly based on the evidence of infestation by parasitological, serological and molecular methods in body fluids (urine, stools and blood) and/or tissue specimens. Diagnostic imaging modalities (Ultrasonography, US; Computed Tomography, CT; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI) support clinical-laboratoristic diagnosis with added value in evaluation of severity of morbidity and effectiveness of treatments. In most cases, early repeated anthelmintic chemotherapy can prevent the onset of advanced disease manifestations. Interventional radiology may offer an effective treatment option in case of variceal bleeding in advanced liver disease with portal hypertension resistant to conventional therapies.