title: Role of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of intramuscular cysticercosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonspecific clinical presentations often lead to misdiagnosis of focal cysticercal myositis. This report emphasizes the role of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of solitary intramuscular cysticercosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with persistent post-traumatic isolated muscular swelling were treated with analgesic and antibiotics, but the swelling did not subside. Radiographs showed soft tissue swelling with no bony abnormalities. Laboratory markers were inconclusive. Ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed typical features of intramuscular cysticercosis. Clinical, radiological, and fundoscopic evaluation of brain and eyes could not isolate any cysticercosis focus in these organs. Patients were treated with 3 weeks albendazole therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The identifying sonographic features of intramuscular cysticercosis, as evident from this case series, included an intramuscular elliptical or oval anechoic lesion with echogenic intralesional focus likely to be scolex. Magnetic resonance images showed orientation of the cyst along the direction of muscle fibers with T2W hyperintense signal and post-contrast perilesional enhancement. All patients responded to medical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cysticercosis may manifest as isolated muscular swelling without neurological or ocular involvement. Clinicians should be aware of this clinical condition to avoid misdiagnosis. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are good diagnostic aids to establish soft tissue cysticercosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. sujitortho@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Sujit Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.forename: Ramesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Narendranadh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akkina
authors.forename: Aravind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hampannavar
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tahasildar
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Limaye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
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