Korean J Pancreas Biliary Tract.  2019 Apr;24(2):79-83. 10.15279/kpba.2019.24.2.79.

Clonorchis sinensis Infection Presenting as Acute Cholangitis and Acute Cholecystitis

• Yang YM
• Choi H
• Ryu DH
• Woo CG
• Han JH
• Park SM

• KMID: 2448665
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15279/kpba.2019.24.2.79

Abstract

A 59-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal computerized tomography was suggestive of biliary stones. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, adult worms resembling Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) were drained. Eggs were detected in stool using the formalin-ether concentration method and C. sinensis-specific antibody was detected in the serum. A diagnosis of C. sinensis infection was made. The symptoms of the patient gradually resolved after treatment with anti-parasite medication. The patient lived in a non-endemic region for C. sinensis infection and had no history of intake of raw or undercooked freshwater fishes. South Korea is one of the endemic countries for C. sinensis infection and people can be infected via indirect routes of transmission such as cooking utensils. Therefore, the possibility of C. sinensis infection should be considered in patients presenting with biliary diseases in South Korea. We describe the clinical findings of this case with a review of literature.

Keyword

Clonorchis sinensis; Cholecystitis; Cholangitis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangitis*
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis, Acute*
Clonorchis sinensis*
Cooking and Eating Utensils
Diagnosis
Eggs
Female
Fishes
Fresh Water
Humans
Korea
Methods
Middle Aged
Ovum