Cysticercosis in otolaryngology

Review of cysticercosis of maxillofacial region and report of two cases

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, which very rarely manifests in the maxillofacial region. It usually presents as a painless swelling. The most common site for maxillofacial cysticercosis are the tongue and lips. When humans accidently ingest the eggs of Taenia solium, they become the intermediate host, a role which is typically played by pig. This paper describes two cases of cysticercosis cellulosae, presenting as non-tender swelling of left buccal mucosa and left temporalis region respectively. Case reports available on PubMed were searched and a review was performed. Excision of cystic lesion was the treatment modality in majority of published reports. It is emphasised that cysticercosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of solitary painless swellings of oral and maxillofacial region, especially in patients from an endemic region.

Solitary cysticercus in the right temporalis muscle: case report of a rare form of presentation of cysticercosis

Solitary cysticercus localized to the head and neck musculature is an unusual form of presentation of cysticercosis. Since it is rare and has non-specific manifestations, it can present a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. Our patient was a 16-year-old female who presented with a gradually increasing, painful swelling over right temple region of 6-month duration. Ultrasound and computed tomography scan revealed the presence of a solitary cysticercus in the right temporalis muscle. Surgical excision of the lesion was combined with a 4-week course of the anti-helminthic drug, Albendazole. Patient had a satisfactory resolution of symptoms and there was no recurrence in a follow-up period of 3 years. We suggest that cysticercosis should be considered as one of the possibilities in the differential diagnosis of swellings in the maxillofacial region, especially in the endemic areas. Imaging studies play an important role in confirmation of the diagnosis.

Solitary myocysticercosis of masseter muscle: A rare presentation

Cysticercosis in human is caused by larva of cyclophyllid cestode named Taenia solium. Worm infestation is quite common in developing countries due to poor sanitation, habit of open defection. This condition primarily involves central nervous system. We present a rare case of myocysticercosis involving the masseter muscle.

Orofacial cysticercosis: Report of a rare case with review of literature

Cysticercosis is common in developing countries in which the combination of rural society, crowding, and poor sanitation facilities allows greater contact between humans and pigs and thus more opportunities for fecal contamination of food and water occurs. They are rarely located in oral and perioral tissues, particularly in the muscles of mastication, muscle of the facial expression, suprahyoid muscles, and postcervical musculature and also as in the tongue, buccal mucosa, and lip. Cysticercosis is a potentially fatal parasitic disease that rarely found in the maxillofacial region in humans. This paper reports the case of a young female patient presented with isolated lesion of cysticercosis involving buccinator muscle. In conclusion, we suggest that cysticercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraoral solitary nodules within the oral and maxillofacial region, especially in endemic areas. High-resolution ultrasonography is an excellent noninvasive and cost-effective modality for the diagnosis and also suggests that localized parasitic infections such as Cysticercus cellulosae can be successfully treated with conservative management using oral antiparasitic (antihelminthic) medication.

Cysticercosis involving muscle of mastication: a review and report of two cases

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stages of the parasitic cestode, Taenia solium. It is a common disease in developing countries where it is also endemic. The central nervous system (CNS) is the most important primary site of infection and the disease can present with solitary or multiple space occupying lesions. Cases of cysticercosis presenting as isolated muscle mass (pseudotumours) without involvement of the CNS have also been recently described in the literature. We present two cases who presented to us with pain, swelling, and tenderness involving the temporalis muscle along with trismus. Ultrasonography and MRI findings were suggestive of cysticercosis involving the temporalis muscle which resolved after the albendazole therapy.

Cysticercosis of tongue - A case report

Tongue is a rare site for cysticercosis cellulosae. Very few cases of solitary cysticercosis of tongue have been reported. We are reporting one such case. Also a review of reported cases in literature, etoipathogenesis, clinical course and management is being described.

Oral cysticercosis: case report and review of the literature

Cysticercosis is a condition that occurs when man is infested by the larvae of Taenia solium, acting as an intermediate host instead of definitive. Oral cysticercosis is a rare event, and it represents a difficulty in clinical diagnosis. A case of oral cysticercosis in a 23-year-old white female who presented a painless swelling in the dorsal portion of the tongue is reported. An excisional biopsy was performed and histopathological examination revealed a cystic cavity containing the tapeworm.

Maxillofacial cysticercosis: uncommon appearance of a common disease

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the sonographic appearances of cysticercosis involving uncommon muscular sites.

METHODS

Two patients with nodular swelling involving the tongue and maxillary region were examined with high-resolution sonography.

RESULTS

Sonographic examination revealed an anechoic area with a small calcified scolex suggesting cysticercus infection.

CONCLUSIONS

High-resolution sonography is a noninvasive and nonionizing imaging modality that plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

Oral cysticercosis?report of six cases

BACKGROUND

Cysticercosis cellulosae rarely involves the oral region in humans.

METHODS

Six cases of oral cysticercosis were diagnosed, three each in lips and buccal mucosa. Diagnosis was made by characteristic gross and histopathologic appearances.

RESULTS

Of 146 cases of cysticercosis, 6 (4.1%) were of the oral cavity. All 6 cases were initially seen with painless swellings. Clinical differential diagnosis ranged from retention cyst, lipoma, fibroma, neurofibroma, and angular stomatitis. Histopathologic examination revealed cysticercus larvae.

CONCLUSIONS

The oral cavity is a rare site of involvement by cysticercosis, even in an endemic area. Histopathologic findings of the excised cyst are diagnostic of the lesion.

Cysticercosis of the oral cavity: report of five cases and a review of literature

This paper reports on five cases of cysticercosis of tongue and buccal mucosa, diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), affecting child patients who presented between January 1994 and October 1997. Four cases presented with gradually increasing nodular swelling of the dorsum of tongue and in the fifth case the swelling was situated on the buccal mucosa of the left side. A clinical diagnosis of cysticercosis was not entertained in any of these patients, who each presented with a solitary lesion; instead, it was considered to be a benign cyst or benign tumour of salivary gland or mesenchymal tissue, before FNAC diagnosis. These lesions of the oral cavity may present first to a dentist and, in endemic areas, cysticercosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of solitary nodular lesions of the oral cavity, particularly in young individuals.