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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;22:157-159
© 2002 Elsevier Science NL

Case report

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis: uncommon cause of pulmonary coin-lesion

^a Thoracic Surgery Department, University of Torino, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista, Via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy
^b Pathology Department, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
^c Unit of Thoracic Surgery, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy

Received 10 January 2002; received in revised form 2 April 2002; accepted 4 April 2002.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-11-6336775; fax: +39-11-6960170
e-mail: ottavio.rena{at}tiscalinet.it

Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare entity caused by Dirofilaria, a dog worm that is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The filarial nematode enters the subcutaneous tissue, travels to the right ventricle, dies and then embolizes the pulmonary vessels causing a small pulmonary infarction, which subsequently appears as a solitary nodule. Although these nodules are usually identified incidentally by chest radiography in asymptomatic patients, the lesion is generally presumed to be neoplastic. Diagnosis is made by surgical excision. Awareness of this benign entity is important in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary coin-lesions.

Key Words: Dirofilarial granuloma • Dirofilariasis • Pulmonary infarct • Pulmonary nodules