Abstract
Background: Enterobius vermicularis in an ectopic location usually represents an incidental finding in tissue specimens in a patient without symptoms. However, the parasite can lead to inflammation and symptoms in rare cases.
Case: A 36-year-old woman had an abdominal hysterectomy for menorrhagia, dyspareunia, and lower abdominal pain. Two small nodules from the posterior aspect of the left broad ligament as well as the uterus were sent for histologic examination. The pathologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of “granulomatous peritoneal nodules due to E. vermicularis.” Within the nodules were aggregates of ova of E. vermicularis.
Conclusion: This case reminds us that such granulomatous lesions can simulate leiomyoma, fibroma, endometrioma, and tuberculous or malignant lesions. It is important to be aware of this resemblance to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (523.5 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- McCabe K., Nahn P. A., Sahin A. A., Mitchell M. F. Enterobiasis of the ovary in a patient with cervical carcinoma in situ. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1995;2(5):231–234. doi: 10.1155/S1064744995000081. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Neri A., Tadir Y., Grausbard G., Pardo J., Ovadia J., Braslavsky D. Enterobius (Oxyuris) vermicularis of the pelvic peritoneum--a cause of infertility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1986 Nov;23(3-4):239–241. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(86)90153-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SYMMERS W. S. C. Pathology of oxyuriasis; with special reference to granulomas due to the presence of Oxyuris vermicularis (Enterobius vermicularis) and its ova in the tissues. AMA Arch Pathol. 1950 Oct;50(4):475–516. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tsung S. H., Loh W. P. Invasion of the Fallopian tube by Enterobius vermicularis. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1979 Sep-Oct;9(5):393–395. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Viñuela A., Fernandez-Rojo F., Martinez-Merino A. Oxyuris granulomas of pelvic peritoneum and appendicular wall. Histopathology. 1979 Jan;3(1):69–77. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1979.tb02982.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]