Endoscopy 2007; 39: E159
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-944652
Unusual cases and technical notes

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Embedded mummified hookworm as a cause of bleeding from the duodenal bulb

I.  Rácz1 , A.  Szabó1 , M.  Goda2 , É.  Magyar3
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Petz Aladár County and Teaching Hospital, Győr, Hungary
  • 2Department of Pathology, Petz Aladár County and Teaching Hospital, Győr, Hungary
  • 3Department of Pathology, Central National Medical Institute, Budapest, Hungary
Further Information

I. Rácz, M. D.

Department of Gastroenterology, Petz Aladár County and Teaching Hospital

Vasvári Pál u. 2, 9024 Győr, Hungary

Fax: +3696-418-486

Email: raczi@petz.gyor.hu

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 July 2007 (online)

Table of Contents

    Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AB_2AZ_3AZ

    Zoom Image

    Figure 1 An 81-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodensocopy to investigate iron-deficiency anemia. A speculum-like foreign body, embedded in a mucosal protuberance, was seen in the duodenal bulb. The inner margin of the polyp-like lesion was ulcerated. The whole lesion was removed using a polypectomy snare (Video 1).

    Zoom Image

    Figure 2 Histopathological examination showed this lesion to be a mummified female hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale), containing numerous eggs, though the original tissue formation of the worm was not detectable. No hookworm eggs were detected in the stool.

    Zoom Image

    Figure 3 Endoscopy 4 months later showed normal duodenal mucosa. We suggest that this represented a late complication of previous hookworm infection, with the lifeless and mummified remnant of the hookworm causing chronic mucosal injury with bleeding ulceration. Endoscopic removal of the unusual structure resulted in complete mucosal and clinical recovery.


    Quality:

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    online content including video sequences viewable at:www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/abstract/endoscopy/doi/10.1055/s-2006-944652

    I. Rácz, M. D.

    Department of Gastroenterology, Petz Aladár County and Teaching Hospital

    Vasvári Pál u. 2, 9024 Győr, Hungary

    Fax: +3696-418-486

    Email: raczi@petz.gyor.hu

    I. Rácz, M. D.

    Department of Gastroenterology, Petz Aladár County and Teaching Hospital

    Vasvári Pál u. 2, 9024 Győr, Hungary

    Fax: +3696-418-486

    Email: raczi@petz.gyor.hu

    Zoom Image

    Figure 1 An 81-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodensocopy to investigate iron-deficiency anemia. A speculum-like foreign body, embedded in a mucosal protuberance, was seen in the duodenal bulb. The inner margin of the polyp-like lesion was ulcerated. The whole lesion was removed using a polypectomy snare (Video 1).

    Zoom Image

    Figure 2 Histopathological examination showed this lesion to be a mummified female hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale), containing numerous eggs, though the original tissue formation of the worm was not detectable. No hookworm eggs were detected in the stool.

    Zoom Image

    Figure 3 Endoscopy 4 months later showed normal duodenal mucosa. We suggest that this represented a late complication of previous hookworm infection, with the lifeless and mummified remnant of the hookworm causing chronic mucosal injury with bleeding ulceration. Endoscopic removal of the unusual structure resulted in complete mucosal and clinical recovery.