Ectopic fascioliasis in the dorsal spine: case report.

Objective: Parasitic myelopathy is rare. We report ectopic infestation of the spine by Fasciola hepatica.

Clinical Presentation: A young woman presented with gradual onset paraplegia with bladder and bowel involvement. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed an epidural mass lesion that was isotense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images, extending from T4-T7 vertebra with extradural cord compression. She was diagnosed with cord compression, possibly owing to tubercular epidural granulation tissue.

Intervention: During surgery, a mobile, flat, leaf-like, pink parasite was found in the epidural space. Morphological and histological indices confirmed the parasite as Fasciola hepatica.

Conclusion: Ectopic spinal localization of Fasciola may occur during the transmigration path of the parasite through peritoneum or from the liver through portal venous system.