title: Cutaneous sparganosis.
abstract: Sparganosis is an infection caused by migrating larvae of the cestode genus Spirometra. There have been approximately 62 cases of sparganosis reported in the United States. Although a subcutaneous mass is the most common manifestation, sparganosis is not well-described in the dermatology literature. We present a case of cutaneous sparganosis in a 52-year-old Filipino American woman. Histologically, the sections showed a granulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis containing a section of a sparganum. A transverse section of an intact sparganum reveals an eosinophilic cuticle, loose stroma, calcareous bodies, and smooth muscle fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA 23708, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Tompkins
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*