A 32-year-old female patient presented with a history of left supraclavicular neck swelling for 6 months. The patient had no history of trauma, pain, fever, or any other constitutional symptoms. The patient was of low socioeconomic status and used to consume nonvegetarian diet.
Examination revealed a soft cystic nontender swelling in the left supraclavicular region of approximately 2 cm × 2 cm size. There were no other palpable swellings in any other part of the body.
Clinically, a diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis was made with lymphangioma, lipoma, and neurofibroma as differential diagnoses.
FNAC was performed with a 22-gauge needle attached to 10-ml syringe. It yielded 2 ml of clear fluid.
Microscopic examination revealed fragments of the bladder wall of the parasite. Background comprised mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate consisting of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and histiocytes
A diagnosis of Subcutaneous Cysticercosis was made, and medication/excision of the swelling was advised.
Causative agent: Taenia solium
Infective stage: encysted larval stage: cysticercus cellulosae,
Route of transmission:
ingestion: eating raw or undercooked pork ( containing encysted cysticercus cellulosae)
ingestion of eggs with contaminated food and water
auto-infection: unhygienic personal habits or by reverse peristalsis.
Diagnosis:
Biopsy of the subcutaneous nodule
Xray of soft tissue/skull (neurocysticercosis), CT
Serological tests: IFA, ELISA