A case of ectopic parasitism: Fasciola hepatica larvae burrow through a human brain and mimic cerebral aneurysm

Abstract

An 8-year-old boy from Xuan-Han County, Sichuan Province, China presented with 6 months headache, nausea and vomiting. A computed tomography scan revealed multiple cerebral hemorrhages. Etiology of the cerebral hemorrhages was investigated by digital subtraction angiography, and cerebral aneurysm was entertained. Twenty-six days after his admission to the hospital, a flatworm emerged from the right eye of the patient. The worm was identified as Fasciola hepatica, based on the morphological characteristics of the worm.