PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Reem M. Baleela AU - Mohamed Y. Huessain AU - Mohamed E. Ahmed TI - Anastomotic esophageal leak due to Taenia saginata following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer DP - 2006 Feb 01 TA - Saudi Medical Journal PG - 241--243 VI - 27 IP - 2 4099 - http://smj.org.sa/content/27/2/241.short 4100 - http://smj.org.sa/content/27/2/241.full SO - Saudi Med J2006 Feb 01; 27 AB - A 50-year-old female with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower third of the esophagus underwent an esophagectomy via laparotomy and right thoracotomy. She developed a major anastomotic leak on the third postoperative day. The chest tube slipped out on the 10th postoperative day and a segment of Taenia saginata tapeworm came out through the tube drain site and was extracted. She was given praziquantel tablets treatment; after which the leakage dropped dramatically and ceased completely after one week. Patients scheduled for esophagectomy who experienced recurrent abdominal pain in areas endemic with a tapeworm need to be screened for taeniasis before surgery.