Case Report: Sparganosis of the Cauda Equina

Abstract

Spinal sparganosis of the cauda equina has been rarely reported. A 54-year-old man presented at the hospital after having experienced lower back pain for 10 months, progressive weakness and numbness of the left leg for 4 months, and urinary incontinence for 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass at the T12-S1 level. Spinal sparganosis was diagnosed by histological examination and molecular identification of the parasite in the tissue section. The patient was treated with a high dose of praziquantel because the parasitic mass was only partially removed and symptoms worsened following surgery.

Annexin gene family in Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) and its phylogenetic pattern among Platyhelminthes of medical interest

“…Sparganosis typically manifests as migrating larvae, and the symptoms depend on their localization in the body. After infecting humans, the ingested sparganum can invade the subcutaneous tissues, spinal cord, eyes, breasts and brain, resulting in local tissue damage, paralysis, blindness, and even death [ 10 , 31 ]. Human sparganosis has been reported in Asian, African, American and European countries, with more than 2000 cases to date [ 1 , 3 , 13 , 23 , 35 ].…”

Sparganosis parasitic tumor: resectability and post-operative outcome, analysis of cases from endemic area in Indochina

“…The analysis shows that there are 50 published instances of sparganosis overall in the study area. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] According to one investigation, sparganosis has been described in 34 cases since 1943. Intraperitoneal (1 case), pulmonary (1 case), intraosseous (1 case), ocular (20 cases), subcutaneous (10 cases), central nervous system (CNS) (13 cases), auricular (1 case), and subcutaneous (10 cases) infections were among those reported.…”