Intestinal FDG-PET/CT imaging of an Eritrean with schistosomiasis seen in Denmark

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases in subtropical and tropical areas and still is considered of public health significance. This disease affects about 200 million people around the world. Intestinal schistosomiasis is mainly diagnosed by parasitological, serological, and molecular methods. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old Eritrean man who had lived in Denmark for the past 3 years presented to the hospital with 4 months’ history of abdominal pain, back pain, and weight loss of 12 kg. He underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT scanning. The scan findings were consistent with schistosomiasis, which were confirmed by serological and pathological tests. CONCLUSION: PET/CT is a common modality neither to detect schistosomes nor to diagnose schistosomiasis. A presumptive diagnosis can be made based on coincidence of high FDG uptake in visceral lymph nodes below the diaphragm and in relation to abdominal viscera, travel history suggestive of schistosome infection, and exclusion of other causes of abdominal pain.