Airway leech infestation masquerading as a tumor
Case report published in Frontiers in Oncology (2025)
Abstract
Airway obstruction is a ventilatory dysfunction caused by internal and external diseases of the respiratory tract, which is usually considered a life-threatening clinical emergency. Traditionally, airway obstruction can be caused by respiratory tumors, trauma, and foreign bodies, among which tumors are the most common. Consequently, physicians may prioritize tumor-related diagnoses, potentially leading to the misdiagnosis of rare non-neoplastic conditions. Here, we report a case of a 61-year-old adult traveler who initially presented with mild dyspnea and a bronchial space-occupying lesion on a CT scan, raising suspicion of an airway tumor. However, further examination confirmed the diagnosis of a living leech infestation in the bronchus, resulting from a trip to Laos. This case highlights the importance of thorough history-taking and critical thinking in clinical diagnosis, urging physicians to avoid overreliance on intuition or experience alone.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Rare case of airway leech infestation initially diagnosed as airway tumor on imaging — bronchoscopic removal led to symptom resolution.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This case report describes a 61-year-old traveler who presented with mild dyspnea and a bronchial space-occupying lesion on CT initially suspicious for tumor, ultimately diagnosed as a living leech infestation of the bronchus acquired during travel to Laos. The report emphasizes the importance of thorough history-taking and avoiding diagnostic anchoring on neoplastic etiologies. This case is entirely about accidental parasitic infestation masquerading as neoplasm, with no discussion of leech therapeutic use, secretions, or biology relevant to hirudotherapy. The study is a single case report focused on clinical diagnostic reasoning. Its relevance to ASH's domain of hirudotherapy and the leech secretome is essentially nil.
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026