The Value of Radioisotopic Liver and Spleen Scan in Visceral Larva Migrans

Recently the incidence of visceral Jarva migrans has increased in the northern states of Iran. Eight infected patients either from northern states of with a history of the trip to these states, were evaluated in Taleghani Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University with chief complaints of mild fever, malaise, anorexia, weight loss, hypochondria! pain. High level eosinophilia (more than 20%) in all of them and increased hepatic enzymes in one case were considered. Isotopic liver and spleen scan in these patients indicated abnormal hepatic image as a single or multifocal areas with decreased activities, whereas hepatic ultrasonography demonstrated homogeneous ech1oic distribution, in all of them. This study revealed the values of isotopic liver and spleen scan, because of: 1- Demonstrating hepatic gran ulomatous involvement in spite of normal sonography and hepatic enzymes; 2- Hepatic granulomas may persist for months or years (1,2,3), if these patients be surveyed for other diseases such as metastasis, their hepatic scintigraphic defects may disinterpret as metastasis, therefore, having an isotopic liver and spleen scan as a base seems to be necessary in the tim of this infectious involvement.