Oral cysticercosis: a clinical dilemma

Abstract

Cysticercosis is a potentially fatal parasitic disease caused by cysticercus cellulosae, the larval stage ofTaenia solium. Oral cysticercosis is a rare entity and represents difficulty in clinical diagnosis. This article reports two cases of oral cysticercosis involving buccal and labial mucosa. Both the cases presented with solitary, nodular swelling that had been clinically diagnosed as a mucocele. Histopathology of excisional biopsy revealed it to be cysticercosis. Single, cystic nodular swelling of oral cavity may be the only evidence of cysticercosis and may present first to dentist. These cases emphasise the role of dentist and thorough histopathological examination in the early diagnosis of disease that can prevent potential systemic complication.

Utility of fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose intraoral tuberculosis and other oral granulomatous lesions

“…Wanjari et al reported two cases of oral cysticercosis involving buccal and labial mucosa. Both the cases presented with solitary, nodular swelling that had been clinically diagnosed as a mucocele …”

Cysticercosis

“…T. solium has a two-host cycle with pig and human beings as the intermediate host, providing the niche to the larvae of cystercerci to survive while human beings are the sole definitive host which foster the adult tapeworm. [ 2 ] The parasite infection spreads through the oro-faecal route by ingesting the food infested with the eggs of the organism. Consumption of infected under-cooked pork is the major cause of CC, while the reasons for its occurrence in the vegetarians can be attributed to eating raw vegetables irrigated with infected water source or drinking infected water.…”

“…[ 3 ] The treatment includes surgical enucleation for solitary lesions and potent anti-helminthics like praziquantel and albendazole can be used for symptomatic or disseminated cases or where surgical intervention is risky or not possible, e.g., Neurocysticercosis. [ 2 ]…”

“…[ 3 ] Additionally, stool examination can also reveal the presence of eggs and/or proglottids of cysticercosis cellulosae. [ 2 ] Hence, the diagnosis of cysticercosis can be challenging, if the larva cannot be identified in the tissue sections.…”