Ultrasound diagnostics of superficial (subcutaneous) dirofilariasis

A clinical observation of superficial dirofilariasis in a 38-year-old man with a subcutaneous formation of the anterior abdominal wall is presented, demonstrating the critical role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of parasitic infections in the context of increasing morbidity. The key diagnostic feature was the visualization of mobile tubular structures during long-term ultrasound scanning, which allowed us to suspect a parasitic nature of the lesion before surgical intervention. Surgical removal confirmed the presence of nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, most likely D. repens, given its subcutaneous location. This case highlights the growing epidemiological significance of dirofilariasis in Russia, where the incidence has increased significantly in recent decades due to the development of tourism, climate change and, as a result, the expansion of carrier habitats. The work substantiates the need to include ultrasound examination of soft tissues and superficial structures in the diagnostic algorithm for subcutaneous formations of unknown etiology.

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