Breast and scrotal sparganosis: sonographic findings and pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE

Sparganosis is caused by the tapeworm larva of the geneus Spirometra. Because sparganosis usually manifests as a migrating subcutaneous mass, sonography can play an important role in its diagnosis.

METHODS

In this series, we investigated 4 cases of subcutaneous sparganosis and focused on the sonographic findings. Three of the cases involved the breast, and the other involved the scrotum, as confirmed by surgery.

RESULTS

The characteristics of subcutaneous sparganosis included a poorly defined hyperechoic lesion with internal serpiginous tubular structures, anechoic serpiginous tubular structures with a surrounding hyperechoic lesion, and an elongated hyperechoic mass with a hypoechoic nodular lesion in the central portion.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that a mass combined with a hypoechoic tubular structure should raise the suspicion of subcutaneous sparganosis.