CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF BILIARY ASCARIASIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Background: Infestation with Ascaris lumbricoides is worldwide. About one fourth of the world's population is known to be infected by ascariasis. It is endemic in various parts of Bangladesh. Objectives: To study the various types of clinical presentations, socio-demographic background and sonographic patterns of biliary ascariasis. Results: Mean age (mean ± SD) of presentation was 35.3 ± 15.9 years and female were 80%. Ninety percent of patients were from rural areas and 80% were bearing a lower class socioeconomic background. The most common presentation was upper abdominal pain in 100% of patients. History of worm emesis was present in 34% and previous biliary tree pathology in 24% of patients. Ultrasonography demonstrated the commonest site of worm entrapment was common bile duct in 76% of patients and the commonest pattern was stripe sign pattern in 56% of patients. Conclusion: In endemic countries, ascariasis should to be suspected in patients with biliary disease, especially if there is history of emesis of worm or previous history of biliary tree pathology. Ultrasonography is a reliable, easily available and relatively inexpensive modality of investigation for suspected biliary ascariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]