HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Clay M. Burnett Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Echeverri, A. Articles by Burnett, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Echeverri, A. Articles by Burnett, C. M.

Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:201-202
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original Articles

Pulmonary dirofilariasis

^a Departments of Surgery, Radiology, and Pathology, Memorial Medical Center, Savannah, Georgia, USA

Accepted for publication June 10, 1998.

Address reprint requests to Dr Echeverri, Surgical Association of Gadsden, 100 Medical Center Drive, Ste 300, Gadsden, AL 35903-1145

Background. Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare entity caused by Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm that is transmitted to humans by mosquitos. This filarial nematode enters the subcutaneous tissue, travels to the right ventricle where it dies, and then embolizes the pulmonary vasculature, causing a small pulmonary infarction, which subsequently appears as a solitary nodule. Although these nodules are usually identified incidentally by chest radiography in asymptomatic patients, the lesion is generally presumed to be neoplastic. Diagnosis is made by surgical excision.

Methods. We reviewed the pathology reports at Memorial Medical Center, Savannah, GA since 1990.

Results. There have been approximately 150 cases reported in the literature worldwide. We found 4 patients with pulmonary dirofilariasis diagnosed at our hospital since 1992. A review of the pathogenesis of the disease and clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of this entity are presented.

Conclusions. Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a benign condition, transmitted by mosquitos to humans that results in peripheral pulmonary nodules. Awareness of this entity is important in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary coin lesions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. D. Reed, S. Shaw, and D. E. Evans Spinal lymphoma and pulmonary filariasis in a pet domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) J Vet Diagn Invest, March 1, 2009; 21(2): 253 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]