A Rare Case of Peripheral Cysticercosis in a Young Female from South India

Human Cysticercosis, a potentially deadly infestation, is the consequence of ingestion of eggs of Taenia solium. Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic infestation of the Central Nervous System, Muscle and Subcutaneous Tissue. About 54% of the patients present with subcutaneous nodules combined with nervous involvement. Cysticercosis is the most common Parasitic Disease of the Central Nervous System in the world but Cysticercosis cutis has been reported much less frequently(less than 2%). Here we are discussing a case of peripheral cysticercosis for which Surgery was done followed by medical treatment. Our patient came with a swelling on the left forearm near cubital fossa duration progressively increasing in size for the past 4 months. Complaints of pain over the swelling. MRI of the swelling was taken which showed a cystic swelling in the subcutaneous plane with a scolex in situ. After ruling out Neurocysticercosis, patient was taken up for excision of the cyst. Histopathology reported positive for cysticercosis with in situ scolex.Postoperative period uneventful and the patient was given a course of albendazole for two weeks. Majority of the patients will be presenting with Neurological Symptoms as Neurocysticercosis. Albendazole is considered as the treatment of choice in most of the cases and is cost effective. An alternate choice is praziquantel which might be given for some patients. Surgical management is preferred for peripheral cyst which is one of the rarest presentation.

Isolated myocysticercosis: rare presentation in quadriceps muscle

Myocysticercosis is not a common disorder and in particular quadriceps muscle is rarer. We are reporting this rare case of myocysticercosis involving quadriceps muscle of right thigh with ultrasonographic demonstration of nodular scolex and associated edema with no neurological involvement.

Is that a scolex? a case of clinically isolated syndrome

Clinically Isolated Syndrome is an initial demyelinating event of the central nervous system that has been associated with the future development of multiple sclerosis. Diagnostic studies include clinical and paraclinical studies. Patients with lesions on MRI of the brain at baseline will more likely develop multiple sclerosis compared to patients without findings. We report a case of a 10-year-old female of Colombian ancestry and origin, who presented with indiscernible neurological clinical signs and symptoms, with MRI brain with and without contrast showing demyelinating lesions with one lesion 'suggesting' a scolex.

A rare case of giant subretinal migration of cysticercosis cyst with extensive epiretinal membrane and subretinal fibrosis

Cysticercosis is caused by cysticercus cellulosae, the larval form of pork tapeworm. In intraocular cysticercosis the cyst enters the subretinal space via the choroid and then gains entry into the vitreous cavity by piercing the retina. It is well established that the cyst can incite extensive intraocular inflammation. Other complications such as epiretinal membrane and cataract have been reported in the literature. Thus far, epiretinal membrane in intraocular cysticercosis has been reported at the site of entry of the cyst into the vitreous cavity. The data on the extent of epiretinal membrane is sparse. We report a rare case of migrating subretinal cysticercosis with extensive epiretinal membrane and subretinal fibrosis.

Spirometra decipiens (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) Collected in A Heavily Infected Stray Cat from the Republic of Korea

Morphological and molecular characteristics of spirometrid tapeworms, Spirometra decipiens, were studied, which were recovered from a heavily infected stray cat road-killed in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea). A total of 134 scolices and many broken immature and mature proglottids of Spirometra tapeworms were collected from the small intestine of the cat. Morphological observations were based on 116 specimens. The scolex was 22.8–32.6 mm (27.4 mm in average) in length and small spoon-shape with 2 distinct bothria. The uterus was coiled 3–4 times, the end of the uterus was ball-shaped, and the vaginal aperture shaped as a crescent moon was closer to the cirrus aperture than to the uterine aperture. PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the cox1 target fragment (377 bp in length and corresponding to positions 769–1,146 bp of the cox1 gene) were performed using total genomic DNA extracted from 134 specimens. The cox1 sequences (377 bp) of the specimens showed 99.0% similarity to the reference sequence of S. decipiens and 89.3% similarity to the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei. In the present study, we report a stray cat heavily infected with S. decipiens identified by mitochondrial cox1 sequence analysis and morphological examinations of the adult worms.

Ultrasonographic and Computed Tomography Evaluation of Hydatid Disease

Echinococcosis has always been an endemic disease. It remains today a common surgical condition in many parts of the Kurnool district, carrying a significant morbidity and mortality. The development of real-time ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) with greater imaging versatility and diagnostic accuracy has resulted in a change. To know the precise location of the cysts, number, multiple organ involvement, complications like infection, cyst rupture, mass effect, etc., by ultrasound and CT. To measure the size and depth of the cysts in an organ thereby indicating their operability or otherwise monitor the response to medical treatment. A study of 30 patients with palpable abdominal masses, pulmonary cysts, renal cysts, etc. was undertaken. Data was collected based on clinical features, plain radiographic, ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings. Thirty cases were studied and analyzed according to their anatomical distribution, age, sex distribution, multiplicity of lesions, multi organ involvement and sonographic appearance. With the aim of ultrasonographic and CT evaluation of hydatid disease, 30 cases studied and analysed. Eighteen cases were in males and twelve were in females. Hepatic hydatids comprised the largest group with 26 cases out of 30 cases with next largest pulmonary hydatid cysts. Multiplicity of cysts was noted in eight cases and multiple organ involvement was seen in seven cases. The preponderance of hepatic hydatid cysts is more in 3rd to 5th decades and in 2nd to 6th decades in cases of lung cysts. Right lobe of liver is more involved than the left one.

Cysticercosis Breast - A Rare Entity

It is unusual for cysticercosis to occur in the substance of the breast. Diagnosis is usually made incidentally. Only few cases are described in the literature. We here report a case of cysticercosis perched on fibroadenoma of breast found on surgical excision in a 16-year-old unmarried female patient. The patient had no discernible evidence of cysticercosis in the other organs. Surgical excision was performed and histological examination demonstrated the presence of cysticercus cellulosae larvae. Characteristic features of this uncommon location are discussed based on a review of the literature. Thus the possibility of cysticercosis of the breast should be kept in mind while considering the differential diagnosis for a breast lump.

Stereotactic Surgery of Neurocysticercosis

The authors had performed stereotactic surgery to diagnose and treat 2 cases of neurocysticercosis under the local anethesia. Generally, such the open surgery need a general anethesia which may increase the chance of brain parenchyml injury. However, the stereotactic surgery has the advantage of being an easy and precise procedure under local anethesia. The authors reviewed the literature and discussed the stereotactic surgery in the diagnosis, and treatment of neurocysticercosis.