Isolated Cysticercosis Cellulosae of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Human cysticercosis is an infection by the larval stage of the tapeworm. We encountered a rare case of isolated cysticercosis of sternocleidomastoid muscle in a 25 year old female. She presented with 2.5 9 1.5 cm firm, dull aching swelling with ill defined margins in right upper part of neck. It appeared to arise in sternocleidomastoid muscle. The diagnosis was established by FNAC, USG and CT scan. Patient was admitted and started on medical treatment. There was complete resolution of symptoms and patient improved to normal after 1 month of therapy with albendazole. The case is reported because it is a rare one and to reinforce the fact that parasitic etiology should be kept in mind while dealing with a case of neck swelling.

Cyscicerci in the longus colli in disseminated cysticercosis: an unusual location for a common endemic disease

“…Extracranial cysticerci are seen in skeletal muscles. Cysticerci are uncommon in the head and neck region but cases of cysticerci of tongue, masseter, mylohyoid, lower lip, soft palate and sternocleidomastoid have been reported previously 1 2. Such widespread presence with involvement of atypical muscles like pterygoids, paravertebral neck muscles and pharyngeal wall muscles has not been documented in previous literature.…”

Solitary cysticercosis of sternocleidomastoid muscle: a rare entity

“…4 Plain X ray has no role except in chronic cases with calcification. Living cysticerci actively evade immune recognition and do not cause inflammation, but death of larva or leakage of fluid from cyst may trigger an acute inflammatory response.…”

Uncommon Clinical Manifestations of Cysticercosis

“…A challenger for a neurologist, ophthalmologist, neurophthalmologists, and general practitioners". Other uncommon presentations of cysticercosis around the neck are: thyroid cysticercosis (one patient is from our region), [239,240] cricothyroid muscle cysticercosis, [241] pharyngeal cysticercosis, first described in South Africa, [242] submandibular lymphadenopathy cysticercosis in a 7-y-old girl presented with seizures and a right submandibular lymph node enlargement confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology [243] and cervical lymphadenopathy cysticercosis [244] cysticercosis of submandibular duct [245] and isolated cysticercosis of the sternocleidomastoid [246] were also reported.…”