A lump in the mouth

Filariasis in Mandible and Maxilla: A Rare Entity-First Report of a Case

Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, categorized as nematodes, are responsible for causing lymphatic filariasis. Even though it can affect individuals of all age groups and both genders, it predominantly affects people of low socioeconomic strata. The filarial worms dwell in the subcutaneous tissues and lymphatics of human hosts. In India, W bancrofti is the primary nematode to cause filariasis, which is transmitted through the bite of blood-sucking infected female anopheles mosquitoes. Lymphangitis, leading to elephantiasis of the legs, arms, scrotum, and breast, is the most salient clinical feature of lymphatic filariasis. The presence of filarial worms in the oral and perioral soft tissues is uncommon; moreover, the presence of filarial worms in a centrally occurring bony lesion is highly unusual and has not yet been reported. We report a case of a central giant cell granuloma due to filariasis that was diagnosed after biopsy of innocuous radiolucent bony lesions of the maxilla and mandible.

Oral helminthic infestations

Oral infections caused by helminths (worms) are rarely encountered in clinical practice, and consequently, there is a paucity of information in the medical and dental literature about these conditions. In the present article, we review the English literature related to oral helminthic infestations. The main oral infections caused by helminths include four roundworm (trichinosis, trichuriasis, filariasis, and larva migrans) and three tapeworm infections (cysticercosis, sparganosis, and echinococcosis). Cases are mainly encountered in endemic areas and mainly present a benign clinical picture. The diagnosis of oral helminthic infections is mostly established after histopathological examination, which shows parasitic larvae lined by fibrous tissue and inflammatory cells. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment of isolated oral lesions caused by helminths; however, patients should undergo thorough medical evaluation to exclude the possible involvement of other body systems.