Toxocariasis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxocara canis or T. cati. We report a patient with toxocariasis who presented with dyspnea, high-grade eosinophilia, and bilateral pulmonary nodules. To further characterize the pulmonary manifestations of toxocariasis, we have reviewed 11 previously published pulmonary toxocariasis cases. The most common pulmonary symptoms in our review were cough and dyspnea, and the most common finding on chest imaging was bilateral pulmonary nodules. Risk factors for Toxocara infection primarily included exposure to dogs. Most patients received albendazole and responded well. A high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose this otherwise preventable parasitic disease.

We present a case of a 25-year-old Hispanic woman who presented to emergency department with chief complaint of left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Initial workup revealed positive pregnancy test. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin was 36,478 (normal range, 0 to 8.0) IU/mL. She underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with dilatation and curettage, which did not reveal any evidence of intrauterine or extrauterine pregnancy. Chest and abdomen radiographic findings were significant for a heterogenously enhancing 2.2×1.7×1.6 cm nodule in superior segment of the right lower lobe of the lung and a large perinephric hematoma. We performed radial endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsies of the right lower lobe lesion. Pathologic specimen revealed choriocarcinoma.

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