Strongyloidiasis Presenting as Yellowish Nodules in Colonoscopy of an Immunocompetent Patient

Clin Endosc. 2019 Jan;52(1):80-82. doi: 10.5946/ce.2018.078. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, and infections are usually asymptomatic. However, immunocompromised patients, such as those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, high-dose steroids, or chemotherapy, can develop fatal hyperinfections. An 84-year-old man without any symptoms was diagnosed with strongyloidiasis during a regular screening colonoscopy. His medical history only involved a gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer 6 months previously. Few cases have been published about asymptomatic strongyloidiasis diagnosed in an immunocompetent host via endoscopic mucosal resection with characteristic colonoscopic findings. We report a case of colon-involved asymptomatic strongyloidiasis with specific colonic findings of yellowish-white nodules. This finding may be an important marker of S. stercoralis infection, which could prevent hyperinfections.

Keywords: Colonoscopy; Endoscopic mucosal resection; Strongyloidiasis.