A case of hepatic anisakidosis caused by Anisakis pegreffii mimicking liver cancer

Abstract

Extra-gastrointestinal anisakidosis is rare. We herein report an Anisakis pegreffii infection in a patient with hepatic anisakidosis diagnosed based on its molecular identification. A 71-year-old male patient had a hepatic tumor presenting as a low-density area of 20 mm in diameter in segment 6 of the liver on abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The surgically resected pathological specimen revealed a necrotizing eosinophilic granuloma containing nematode larvae, possibly an Anisakis larva. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated Anisakis larvae belonging to A. pegreffii. The present results will help identify and characterize unknown Anisakis species in histological sections.