title: An unexpected cause of a subcutaneous nodule: a case report of dirofilaria infection.
abstract: Humans are not natural hosts of Dirofilaria; however, pulmonary or subcutaneous infections may occur through mosquitoes transmission. Patients presenting with simple subcutaneous nodules may not seek early medical attention, and hence systemic involvement through hematogenous spread may occur. Definitive diagnosis of Dirofilaria infection is made by histopathological examinations of the infected tissues. We report a patient with an incidental diagnosis of Dirofilaria infection confirmed by histopathological findings of a subcutaneous nodule on the right thigh. The source of infection remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, No. 670, Chung Te Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bruno Man-Hon
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Yi-Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yie-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yung-Sen
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shian-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu