Small bowel histomorphology in surgical complications of ascariasis: a small series.

BACKGROUND: Ascariasis is a worldwide health problem. Patients usually get treated with antihelminthics. Rarely, undiagnosed cases can present with surgical complications. AIM: To study the clinico-pathological characteristics of small bowel specimens of patients presenting with surgical complications of ascariasis. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of small bowel specimens of patients presenting with surgical complications of ascariasis from a period of 2010 to 2012, received in our department. RESULTS: The patients were of all age groups and mainly presented with intestinal obstruction and perforation. Transmural gangrenous change was seen in all nine cases. Encysted ova were seen in five cases. Two of the cases showed partial to complete infarction of isolated mesenteric lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Ascariasis may cause transmural gangrene of bowel as well as mesenteric lymph node infarction.