
Background: Schistosomiasis is rare in western countries, but remains a potentially serious disease. It is known to result in severe urogenital complications; prompt diagnosis can therefore significantly affect outcomes. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 41-year-old male with pleuritic chest pain and visible hematuria who had emigrated from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom 20 years previously. CT imaging revealed a hydronephrotic right pelvicaliceal system, with a dilated ureter to its distal portion. Preliminary tests for schistosomiasis, including terminal urine microscopy and serology, were negative. An initial ureteroscopy was challenging owing to a tight ureteral stricture such that a retrograde stent insertion and not ureteroscopic visualization or biopsy was carried out. A relook ureteroscopy after 6 weeks revealed a dense distal ureteral stricture, biopsies were taken, the stricture was ablated with LASER, and a retrograde stent was placed. Microscopic examination of the biopsies confirmed Schistosomiasis haematobium. Treatment consisted of a divided dose of praziquantel and a reducing dose of steroids. At a third look ureteroscopy the stricture was ablated with LASER again, and the stent was removed. Subsequent renograms indicated recurrent obstruction despite LASER treatment and a retrograde ureteral stent was replaced. The patient ultimately had a Boari flap ureteral reimplant with good results. Conclusion: This case illustrates the clinical challenges of diagnosing and treating ureteral schistosomiasis. It shows that all the initial tests can be negative, but where the clinical picture points toward schistosomiasis it is worth persevering and a good tissue biopsy may be the only way to verify an otherwise elusive diagnosis.
Case Report
Case Report
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
