Keny S, Modi N, Keny A, Gokhale N, Yadav S, Azad K. An isolated subcutaneous paraspinal pseudo-tumor-more to it than meets the eye-a case report and review of literature.
J Surg Case Rep 2023;
2023:rjad544. [PMID:
37873045 PMCID:
PMC10590635 DOI:
10.1093/jscr/rjad544]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A 4-year-old male child presented to us with a paraspinal pseudo-tumor over the mid-back region with pain being his only symptom. On initial ultrasonography, it was presumed to be a nerve sheath tumor, but on an excision biopsy and histopathology, it proved to be a subcutaneous cysticercosis. Furthermore, an MRI of the brain showed a ring enhancing lesion with vasogenic edema, which confirmed the diagnosis of a neurologically symptomless neurocysticercosis. We treated the patient with albendazole and a short course of dexamethasone. There was complete resolution of the painful subcutaneous swelling, and the patient remained neurologically symptomless at all subsequent follow-ups. Resolution of the brain lesions was seen in the 6-month MRI follow-up. Although rare, orthopedic surgeons should consider the possibility of parasitic infections when dealing with small near-asymptomatic soft tissue paraspinal swellings of uncertain etiology. A thorough investigation in such cases can be lifesaving.
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