Abstract:

Objective To investigate the demonstration CT imaging of hepatic in children with paragonimiasis for improving understanding of the imaging manifestations of this disease. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed regarding the general information, laboratory findings and CT images in children confirmed or clinically diagnosed as paragonimiasis in Kunming Third People's Hospital between 2019 and 2021. The cases were divided into two groups according to the presence of liver lesions identified on abdominal CT, with the general condition and laboratory findings of the two groups compared, and the CT imaging of children with liver lesions was analyzed. Results A total of 63 children were included in the analysis, 19 (30.2%) had liver lesions, and another 44 (69.8%) had no liver lesions. The percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils was higher in children with liver lesions [46.39% (27.81%, 59.53%)] than in children without liver lesions [26.62% (18.42%, 46.70%)](Z=2.022, P<0.05), yet the ratio of serum albumin to globulin in children with liver lesions was lower than in children without liver lesions [0.80 (0.70, 1.00) vs. 1.00 (0.80, 1.20); Z=-1.997, P<0.05]. In the 19 children with liver lesions, 13 (68.4%) had multiple lesions, 6 (31.6%) had a single lesion, 16 (84.2%) had "worm tunnel sign", 5 (26.3%) had abscess, and 5 (26.3%) had "mushroom sign". In addition, all children with liver lesions were complicated with pleural effusion and pulmonary consolidation. Four children (21.1%) were complicated with skin and soft tissue swelling, and 2 (10.5%) demonstrated hypodensity in the cerebral parenchyma. Conclusion Nearly one-third of children with paragonimiasis are complicated with liver lesions, and the presence of "worm tunnel sign", abscess and "mushroom sign" of CT-enhanced scan is of higher diagnostic value for hepatic paragonimiasis.

Key words: Children, Liver, Paragonimiasis, Imaging Features