A case of oral stings by spermatophores of Todarodes pacificus

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Vol. 54; no. 7; pp. 423 - 426
• Main Authors: AKIMORI, Toshiyuki, YAMAGUCHI, Tomoko, KAWAHARA, Tadakazu, KAWADA, Kensuke, OKAMOTO, Yoshiyuki, ISHIKAWA, Yoshimi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2008
• Subjects: parastic worm; spermatophore; Todarodes pacifibas; tongue stings
• ISSN: 0021-5163; 2186-1579
• DOI: 10.5794/jjoms.54.423

Oral mucosal lesions associated with foreign body injuries can have various origins, but traumatic lesions of the oral mucosa caused by other organisms are rare. Such cases thus require special knowledge for diagnosis. We report a case of oral stings from spermatophores of Todarodes pacificus, the Pacific squid. The patient was a 31-year-old woman who cooked the internal organs of a raw T. pacificus for lunch. She experienced a sharp pain on the tongue and buccal mucosa when eating the organs. On checking the oral cavity, she identified multiple white objects with a worm-like appearance sticking into the tongue and oral mucosa. Attempts to remove these objects herself were unsuccessful. She then visited the emergency department of our hospital. We examined the oral cavity and found multiple white objects appearing to be parasitic worms sticking into the tongue and oral mucosa. Attempts to remove the objects with forceps were unsuccessful because of tight attachment to the mucosa. Removal was thus achieved by making slight incisions under local anesthesia. The specimens showed a white spinate shape and were about 4mm long. Endoscopic examination of the upper digestive tract after treatment of the oral cavity revealed no additional foreign bodies. The final pathological diagnosis was spermatophores of T. pacificus.