Hepatic Schistosomiasis with Abnormal Ultrasound Findings

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is an endemic disease in many countries in Africa and the Middle East, and affects millions of individuals. When schistosome eggs are deposited in the liver, an inflammatory response occurs, and if this response becomes chronic, it can lead to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. A 46-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with hepatic schistosomiasis who recently traveled to the Philippines presented to our hospital with a one-week history of abdominal pain and diarrhea. On transabdominal ultrasound, a reticular echogenic pattern and periportal wall thickening were noted. If the patient has a recent history of travel and characteristic findings on abdominal ultrasound, hepatic schistosomiasis should be suspected and can be diagnosed by detecting ova on liver biopsy.