HEPATIC VISCERAL LARVA MIGRANS - EVOLUTION OF THE LESION, DIAGNOSIS, AND ROLE OF HIGH-DOSE ALBENDAZOLE THERAPY

An unusual presentation of hepatic involvement of visceral larva migra ns is described. A 45-yr-old male presented with fever, pain in the ri ght upper quadrant, and persistent eosinophilia. Ultrasound initially detected a solitary hypoechoic area in the right lobe of the liver whi ch rapidly progressed to multiple lesions with peripheral hyperechoic lesions. Aspiration from the lesion revealed Charcot-Leyden crystals a nd sheets of eosinophils. Serology for Toxocara canis was strongly pos itive. Prolonged and high-dose albendazole therapy, in combination wit h antibiotics, was required to treat the patient effectively.