Systemic Invasive Toxocariasis Presenting with Pseudotumoral Features: Diagnostic Pitfalls and the Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach
Keywords:
toxocariasis, pseudotumoral manifestations, interdisciplinaryapproachAbstract
Diagnostic challenges arising from the polymorphic clinical presentation and the absence of pathognomonic signs require an interdisciplinary approach in the evaluation of suspected systemic parasitic infections. We present the case of an adult patient with invasive manifestations and multiple pseudotumoral hepatic, pulmonary, and lymphatic lesions, initially interpreted as metastases of unknown origin. The clinical evolution and biological context, characterized by persistent eosinophilia, raised the suspicion of a parasitic etiology, which was subsequently confirmed through morphological assessment and specific serological testing for Toxocara spp. The diagnosis of systemic invasive toxocariasis was established by integrating clinical, imaging, morphological, and immunological data, requiring close collaboration among specialists in infectious diseases, pulmonology, oncology, pathology, and medical parasitology. The peculiarity of this case lies in the mimicry of a disseminated neoplastic disease by a chronic, larval parasitic infection with an atypical presentation. Etiological treatment led to regression of the imaging lesions and normalization of hematological parameters, confirming the parasitic origin. This case highlights the importance of including toxocariasis in the differential diagnosis of systemic infiltrative lesions and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in cases with unclear evolution.
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