An ultrasonographic evaluation of solitary muscular and soft tissue cysticercosis

Abstract

Background: Cysticercosis in humans is infection with the larval form (cysticercus cellulosae) of the pork tapeworm T. solium. Encystment of larvae can occur in almost any tissue. The location of cysts in order of frequency is the central nervous system, subcutaneous tissue and striated muscle, vitreous humour of the eye and, rarely, other tissues. High resolution ultrasound can be used in the diagnosis of muscular and soft tissue cysticercosis. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the ultrasonographic fi ndings in cases of muscular and soft tissue cysticercosis. Materials and methods: It was a retrospective review of the cases of muscular and soft tissue cysticercosis which were diagnosed by ultrasound during June 2007 to May 2009 in the department of Radiology and Imaging, Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital. A total of six patients were evaluated. Result: There were four males and two females. Age of the patient ranged from 18 to 50 years. All of the patients presented with a swelling with pain in fi ve of them. There was a wide variation in the location of the cysts. In all cases ultrasound revealed a cystic lesion with an echogenic eccentric pedunculated nodule attached to the wall. The mean diameter of the cyst was 6mm. Smooth wall was present in fi ve cases whereas one of the cysts revealed irregular wall. Pericystic infl ammatory changes were seen in the adjacent muscles. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive method that can be used in the diagnosis of muscular and soft tissue cysticercosis.

Solitary Cysticercosis of the Temporalis Muscle: Report of a Rare Case

“…Commonly, patients present with multiple lesions such as cysts of different sizes associated with varying degrees of host response, nodular enhancing lesions and residual calcifications sometimes accompanied by perilesional edema [5]. The cysts are ovoid and white to opalescent, rarely exceeding 1.5 cm, and contain an invaginated scolex with hooklets that are bathed in clear cyst fluid [6].…”

Ultrasonography Guided Excision of Isolated Cysticercosis of the Temporalis Muscle Causing Intractable Headache: A Rare Case Report

“…Isolated head and neck muscle cysticercosis is an extremely unusual site of involvement and extensive search of literature revealed that isolated temporalis muscle cysticercosis is even rarer [11]. Diagnosis of isolated muscular cysticercosis is a very perplexing problem due to their rarity and nonspecific manifestations and often present as a diagnostic dilemma to the clinician [12]. Cysticercosis may remain asymptomatic for variable period of time or may present with severe local symptoms.…”

“…Cysticercosis may remain asymptomatic for variable period of time or may present with severe local symptoms. Various types of local clinical manifestations such as myalgic, myopathic, nodular or mass like and the rare pseudohypertrophy have been described in the literature [12]. The various differential diagnosis may include lipoma, fibroma, neurofibroma or intermuscular abscess and it is difficult to diagnose this condition solely on a clinical basis [13].…”

“…Isolated muscular involvement by cysticercosis is rare [4] and only a handful of cases are recorded in literature. These cases have nonspecific manifestations and present diagnostic dilemma to the clinician [5]. We encountered one such perplexing case of isolated cysticercosis of the temporalis muscle which presented with intractable headache since 3 years which was not responding to conservative management of headache.…”

Orofacial Cysticercosis: A Review

“…Cysticercosis is an infection caused in humans by the larval form of the pork tapeworm T. solium (i.e, Cysticercus cellulosae) [2]. T. solium exists worldwide but is most prevalent in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, China, southern and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe [3]. The pork tapeworm eggs, when ingested through the contaminated food, water or dirty hands leads to the parasitic infestation [4].…”