A case report of Paragonimus westermani infection differentially diagnosed from primary lung cancer

Abstract

A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a pulmonary nodular shadow in the right upper lobe (S²), followed by transient coughing. The pulmonary nodular shadow showed a high accumulation on FDG-PET, but trans-bronchoscopic biopsy failed to lead to a diagnosis. A right upper lobectomy was performed because of the possibility of primary lung cancer. Histological findings showed a large number of eggs and the body of an adult parasite in the inflammatory mass. He was diagnosed with Paragonimus westermani infection based on immunological examinations after surgery, and treated with the oral administration of praziquantel.