Long Fish Tapeworm in the Intestine: An in situ Observation by Capsule Endoscopy

Koichi Soga; Junichi Sakagami; Osamu Handa; Hideyuki Konishi; Naoki Wakabayashi; Nobuaki Yagi; Minoru Yamada; Satoshi Kokura; Yuji Naito; Toshikazu Yoshikawa; Naoki Arizono

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4374

CASE REPORTS

Long Fish Tapeworm in the Intestine: An in situ Observation by Capsule Endoscopy

Koichi Soga, Junichi Sakagami, Osamu Handa, Hideyuki Konishi, Naoki Wakabayashi, Nobuaki Yagi, Minoru Yamada, Satoshi Kokura, Yuji Naito, Toshikazu Yoshikawa, Naoki Arizono

Author information

Koichi Soga
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Department of Medical Zoology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Junichi Sakagami
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Osamu Handa
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Hideyuki Konishi
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Naoki Wakabayashi
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Nobuaki Yagi
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Minoru Yamada
Department of Medical Zoology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Satoshi Kokura
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Yuji Naito
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Toshikazu Yoshikawa
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Naoki Arizono
Department of Medical Zoology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: capsule endoscopy, Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense, tapeworm, parasite, small intestine

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2011 Volume 50 Issue 4 Pages 325-327

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4374

Details

Abstract

We present the case of a patient who was referred to our hospital after she reported having passed a long, whitish object per rectum. Accordingly, capsule endoscopy was performed using the PillCam^® SB video capsule. A tapeworm of the species Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense was detected; it appeared to be freely floating and unfolded in the jejunum and sometimes tangled or irregularly folded in the ileum. The stretching of the strobila by strong peristalsis in the ileum may have resulted in the separation of the caudal portion of the strobila, which descended into the colon and was eventually passed per rectum.

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