Clinical investigation of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms

Abstract

The authors recently encountered three cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms. In case 1, with right upper and lower lobe masses and right pleural effusion, the right lower lobe mass and pleural effusion spontaneously disappeared one month after admission. In case 2, chest roentgenograms and chest CT scanning revealed a small mass with cavity formation. In case 3, with a right lower lobe mass and pleural effusion, steroid therapy resulted in disappearance of the mass and a remarkable reduction of pleural effusion. Human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare disease. In Japan, only 32, including our cases, have been reported in the literature of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms. The literature was reviewed.