Ectopic forms of schistosomiasis mansoni in the second macroregion of Alagoas: case series report and review of the literature

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Carlos William Rodrigues Lima, Nathalie Macêdo Cruz de Oliveira, Simone Vicente Dias da Silva, Maria Eugênia Leite Duarte, Ana Paula Fernandes Barbosa
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Schistosoma mansoni; Ectopic mansonic schistosomiasis; Pathology; Endemic diseases; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; The Portal
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0087-2017; https://doaj.org/article/2c2250ac90a84499a7d8fdf3f97f8943

Abstract INTRODUCTION Ectopic forms of schistosomiasis are those in which the parasitic element is localized outside the portal system, the natural habitat of the helminth. Although the prevalence rates of schistosomiasis are high in Brazil, clinical and epidemiological data on ectopic forms of the disease are still scarce. METHODS Cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive epidemiological study in which cases with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of an ectopic form of schistosomiasis were analyzed. The cases were selected from a database of the anatomic pathology files of a referral center. RESULTS Of the 21 cases identified, seven affected the female genital tract and five the male genital tract; four cases were identified in the peritoneum; two cases involved lymph nodes and two involved adipose tissue; and renal involvement was detected in one case. CONCLUSIONS The lack of knowledge of the clinical presentation of ectopic forms of schistosomiasis makes the early identification and treatment of this form difficult, with direct implications in the reduction of morbidity and mortality in endemic areas.