• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.345-347
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• 2012

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the lung fluke, Paragonimus spp. Lung flukes may be found in various organs, such as the brain, peritoneum, subcutaneous tissues, and retroperitoneum, other than the lungs. Abdominal paragonimiasis raises a considerable diagnostic challenge to clinicians, because it is uncommon and may be confused with other abdominopelvic inflammatory diseases, particularly peritoneal tuberculosis, and peritoneal carcinomatosis. Also, subcutaneous paragonimiasis does not easily bring up clinical suspicion, due to its rarity. We herein report 2 cases of abdominal paragonimiasis and 1 case of subcutaneous paragonimiasis in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 1993

Asian countries including Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Philippines are endemic area of Paragonimiasis as people who live those countries have special diet habbit to ingest raw fish and meat. Of the Paragonimus westermani infestation, mediastinal paragonimiasis is a rare condition because of its life cycle. We experienced a case of mediastinal parasitic cyst resected under video-thoracoscopy, which was confirmed as paragonimiasis granuloma postoperativley.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.800-804
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• 2000

Cerebral paragonimiasis is an important parasitic infestation found in Eastern Asia, West Africa, and Central/South America. It is frequently associated with abscess, granuloma or cystic lesions in chronic stage. Chronic symptoms include seizure, visual disturbance, movement and perception disorders, usually resulting from the spaceoccupying lesions. The authors report a case of chronic cerebral paragonimiasis combined with meningioma. A 69-year-old man presented with generalized seizure and impaired consciousness. CT scan and MR image of the brain revealed two intracranial lesions ; one was cerebral paragonimiasis in the left temporo-occipital lobe, and the other a huge falx meningioma. Two lesions were successfully removed in staged operations and the generalized seizure was controlled after removal of the cerebral paragonimiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.353-355
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• 2022

We report a case of an 80-year-old Korean man with chronic cerebral paragonimiasis who presented with progressive memory impairment. He suffered from pulmonary paragonimiasis 60 years ago and has been experiencing epilepsy since the age of 45. He began experiencing memory and cognitive deterioration 3 years ago. He visited the neuropsychiatric department of our hospital to check his symptoms and health from a year ago. Contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging study revealed calcifications and cystic lesions encompassing the right temporo-occipital region. Encephalomalatic changes were also observed in the right occipital and temporal areas. The anti-Paragonimus specific IgG antibodies in his serum showed a strong positive response. The neuropsychological test results showed a Global Deterioration Scale of 4 and a Clinical Dementia Rating Scale of 1. The chronic cerebral paragonimiasis lesions in the patient's right temporo-occipital region might induce the dementic change.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2010

A paragonimiasis infestation is caused by the paragonimus species. Paragonimiasis mainly occurs by ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. In our country, the prevalence of paragonimiasis was high until late 1960s due to eating habits, but after the 1970s the prevalence of the disease has markedly decreased and now the disease is rarely seen. The diagnosis of tuberculosis by Chest X-ray is often confused with pulmonary carcinoma, bacillary and parasitic infections, and chronic mycosis. Pulmonary paragonimiasis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer especially in the appropriate clinical setting because effective treatment with praziquantel can be rewarding. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with pulmonary paragonimiasis that was suspicious for lung cancer, as detected by biopsy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2006

Objective : The authors investigate appropriate evaluation and surgical methods in treatment of the cerebral paragonimiasis accompanying epilepsy. Methods : Thirteen patients with the cerebral paragonimiasis accompanying epilepsy were included for this study. Preoperative evaluation methods included history taking, skin and serologic tests for Paragonimus westermani, neurologic examinations, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, amytal test, PET or SPECT, and video-EEG monitoring with depth and subdural grid electrodes. Seizure outcome was evaluated according to Engel's classification. Results : Surgical methods were temporal lobectomy including lesions in six, lesionectomy in five, and temporal lobectomy plus lesionectomy in two. Postoperative neurological complications were not noticed, and seizure outcomes were class I in 12 patients [92%], class II in one [8%]. Conclusion : In patients with a cerebral paragonimiasis accompanying epilepsy, further evaluation methods must be done to define the epileptogenic zone, and complete resection of the epileptogenic zone with different surgical methods should be performed for seizure control.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.69-72
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• 2011

Pulmonary paragonimiasis is a relatively rare cause of lung disease revealing a wide variety of radiologic findings, such as air-space consolidation, nodules, and cysts. We describe here a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 27-year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of cough and sputum. Based on chest computed tomography (CT) scans and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) findings, the patient was suspected to have a metastatic lung tumor. However, she was diagnosed as having Paragonimus westermani infection by an immunoserological examination using ELISA. Follow-up chest X-ray and CT scans after chemotherapy with praziquantel showed an obvious improvement. There have been several reported cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking lung tumors on FDG-PET. However, all of them were suspected as primary lung tumors. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first case of paragonimiasis mimicking metastatic lung disease on FDG-PET CT imaging.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2009

Paragonimiasis typically results from the consumption of raw or improperly cooked crustacea, especially crabs and crayfish. Although previously endemic in Korea, the prevalence of this disease decreased in the early 1970s because of educational campaigns and fewer intermediate hosts as a result of ecological changes. Recently, we were presented with a family where all members were infected with Paragonimus after ingestion of Kejang (= drunken crab). The mother was hospitalized for general myalgia and weakness first, followed by the father, who was hospitalized for dyspnea 2 month later. After the parents were diagnosed with paragonimiasis, we recommended their daughter to visit our hospital for a checkup, because they all had eaten freshwater crabs soaked in soybean sauce. She complained of generalized myalgia, fever, and pleuritic pain, and was also diagnosed with paragonimiasis. Peripheral blood of the 3 patients revealed hypereosinophilia, and computed tomography (CT) scans of their chests showed pleural effusion. The results of antibody tests by ELISA were positive for paragonimiasis. We report here the case series of familial paragonimiasis in a modern urban city, rather than in a typical endemic area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.409-412
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• 2011

In Korea. many people enjoy eating raw or underkooked freshwater crayfish and crabs which unfortunately may cause paragonimiasis. Here, we describe a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a 9-year-old girl, who presented with a 1-month history of abdominal pain, especially in the right flank and the right inguinal area, with anorexia. A chest radiograph revealed pleural effusion in both lungs, and her abdominal sonography indicated an inflammatory lesion in the right psoas muscle. Peripheral blood analysis of the patient showed hypereosinophilia (66.0%) and an elevated total serum lgE level (>2,500 IU/ml). The pleural effusion tested by ELISA were also positive for antibodies against paragonimiasis. Her dietary history stated that she had ingested raw freshwater crab, 4 months previously. The diagnosis was pulmonary paragonimiasis accompanied by abdominal muscle involvement. She was improved after 5 cycles of praziquantel treatment and 2 times of pleural effusion drainage. In conclusion, herein, we report a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a girl who presented with abdominal pain and tenderness in the inguinal area.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 1977

An epidemiological study of clonorchiasis sinensis and paragonimiasis westermani prevailed among the people of a rural county. The author studied the infection rates of of clonorchiasis sinensis and paragonimiasis westermanl in the inhabitants of Chungsong Gun, Kyungbuk Province, Korea. The examinations were carried out from March 1965 to November 1965 fowards 1.303 inhabitants whose ages were ranging from three months to over sixty years. All the inhabitants were tested intradermally with clonorchis and paragonimus antigen and then confirmed the eggs by M. G. L. technique and sputum test. The results of the examination were summarized as follows : 1. Out of the persons tested, 15.8% were infected with clonorchiasis sinensis. 2. Out of the persons tested with paragonimus antigen, 20.9% were infected with Paragonimus westermani. 3. The infection rate of paragonimiasis was higher than that of clonorchiasis. 4. The infection rate of clonorchiasis in male was 20.8% (147 out of 706), while that in female was 7.1% (58 out of 597). The infection rate of paragonimiasis in male was 21.2% (150 out of 706), while that in female was 20.1% (120 out of 597). 5. The maximum infection rates of clonorchiasis and paragonimiasis were observed among the $45{\sim}49$ age group (65.2% and 43.5%) respectively), however it was gradually decreased in the senile group. 6. By occupation, the maximum infection rate of clonorchiasis was observed in policemen (45.7%) and the maximum carrier of eggs (by sputum test) was observed in the unemployed (paragonimiasis). 7. By education, the maximum infection rate of clonorchiasis was observed in the unepmloyed (28.9%) and the maximum carrier of eggs (by sputum test) was observed in the unemployed (paragnoimiasis).