Clinically unsuspected thyroid involvement in cysticercosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Disseminated cysticercosis is rare in humans. This case highlights the utility of fine needle aspiration (FNA) in diagnosis of cysticercosis in an unusual site.

CASE: A 28-year-old woman underwent FNA from a midline swelling in the neck, clinically suspected to be a nodular goiter or thyroiditis. Giemsa-stained smears revealed a mixed inflammatory infiltrate, foreign body giant cells, and an occasional epithelioid cell granuloma. Thick colloid and occasional clusters of follicular cells were seen. In addition, a single large hooklet, characteristic of cysticercus, and a few calcospherules were also present. Further workup revealed subcutaneous nodules on both thighs, and cystic lesions were detected in the thyroid, brain, and lungs. FNA from a subcutaneous swelling confirmed cysticercosis. A final diagnosis of disseminated cysticercosis involving the thyroid gland was made.

CONCLUSION

FNA is a useful procedure to identify parasitic lesions even in unusual sites and in clinically unsuspected cases.