Schistosoma japonicum infection and rectal carcinoid tumour: underreported coincidence or neglected association?

Schistosoma japonicum infection associated with a rectal carcinoid in an asymptomatic 44-year-old female from the Philippines is described. A systematic review of the literature could not identify similar reports, suggesting a rare coincidence. However, epidemiological data on the frequency of both...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2010-09, Vol.138 (9), p.1289-1291
Main Authors: ZANGER, P., HABSCHEID, W., KREMSNER, P. G., DAHM, H. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoid Tumor - parasitology
Diseases caused by trematodes
Female
For Debate
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Helminthic diseases
Humans
Infectious disease epidemiology
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Microbiology
parasitic disease epidemiology and control
Parasitic diseases
Rectal Neoplasms - parasitology
Schistosoma japonicum
Schistosomiases
Schistosomiasis japonica - complications
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Schistosoma japonicum infection associated with a rectal carcinoid in an asymptomatic 44-year-old female from the Philippines is described. A systematic review of the literature could not identify similar reports, suggesting a rare coincidence. However, epidemiological data on the frequency of both conditions as well as published results of a colorectal screening programme from China indicate that underreporting of this concurrence is likely. Moreover, several studies suggest a causal link between schistosomiasis caused by S. japonicum and more common gastrointestinal malignancies such as colorectal carcinoma. Hence the presented case and the apparent neglect of this observation in the current literature allow speculation on a role of S. japonicum in the pathogenesis of rare gastrointestinal neoplasms such as carcinoid tumours as well. Future reports on similar observations could help to determine the need for systematic investigations and are strongly encouraged.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S095026880999152X