Sparganosis existed for more than three years that misdiagnosed as a breast cancer

Abstract

Objective.: Sparganosis locations in humans are usually presented with a subcutaneous tissue of abdominal wall, chest, abdominal vicera and brain, but are rarely found in the breast. Methods. A case of sparganosis was confirmed by surgical excision of two parasites in a 76-year-old female patient present to a palpable mass in the right breast (presumed to have been sparganosis approximately 3 years ago). She had no history to direct ingestion of snakes or frogs, but had the history of drinking contaminated water. Mammography, ultrasonography, MRI, and FDG PET/CT imaging findings for patient were characteristic of sparganosis due to suspicion of breast cancer. Conclusions: The first route of infection in humans is drinking contaminated water. The second route is the ingestion of raw or partially cooked snakes or frogs. The third route is infected wound snake, frog muscle that attach to the case. However, only a few cases of drinking contaminated water have been reported in the country. Ultrasonography, MRI is known to be helpful for diagnosis of breast sparganosis. However, Mammography, ultrasonography, MRI, and FDG PET/CT for breast sparganosis is not reported present in the country. Reported the case and reviewed the related literature briefly.