Calcified Guinea Worm Simulating Intrapulmonary Calcification

The PATTERN of diseases seen in Saudi Arabia is such that certain diagnostic pitfalls are encountered, which are apt to be both interesting and initially confusing to a radiologist trained in the United States. An outstanding example of this occurs in the evaluation of "pulmonary calcification."

During the past two years several cases were encountered in the Radiology Service of the Dhahran Health Center of the Arabian American Oil Company, in which calcifications noted on a standard posteroanterior chest film were seen upon further investigation to actually lie within the soft tissues of the chest wall. These have an appearance which is identical with calcified guinea worms (Dracuncu-lus medinensis) seen elsewhere in the body (notably the lower extremities), and it was apparent that the calcifications noted on the chest films were also calcified subcutaneous guinea worms.

Report of Case  A young, apparently healthy adult Saudi Arab male was noted