Extrapulmonary Paragonimiasis Diagnosed by Molecular Tools.
Da Young Kim, Jun-Won Seo, Na-Ra Yun et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 55-year-old Korean male presented with acute abdominal pain and a recurrent subcutaneous mass in the left thigh. Initially suspected of having tuberculosis peritonitis, further testing revealed Paragonimus westermani through multiplex real-time PCR and conventional PCR on ascitic fluid. The patient was treated with praziquantel and showed clinical improvement, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis in atypical presentations.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider paragonimiasis in patients with unexplained eosinophilia and peritoneal symptoms, even without pulmonary involvement, as molecular diagnostics can clarify the diagnosis.
Why it matters
This case underscores the utility of molecular diagnostic tools in identifying extrapulmonary infections, which can prevent misdiagnosis in endemic areas.