X-ray identification of parasitic infections in the western region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A review of 14 942 X-ray films of patients attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, during a period of 15 months showed evidence of parasitic infections in 109. Sixty-three were identified as Dracunculus medinensis (57·8%), 19 as Schistosoma haematobium (22·9%) and 17 as Echinococcus granulosus (18·4%). One patient with cysticercosis was also seen.

Most of the parasites were seen incidentally on routine X-ray examination.