Eyelid sparganosis

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of sparganosis in the muscle layer of the eyelid.

Design: Observational case report.

Methods: A 67-year-old man with migratory painful swelling on the eyelid that was unresponsive to medications was evaluated and treated surgically.

Results: Computed tomography showed a 1.5 x 1.5-cm sized, thick-walled lesion and ultrasound biomicroscopy showed hypoechoic tubular and cystic lesions. During surgery, a white, thread-like plerocercoid, 7 cm in length was detected in the orbicularis muscle of the lower eyelid. Histopathologic examination demonstrated the characteristic feature of the sparganum larva and foreign body granulomatous reaction. Serodiagnosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was positive. Three months postoperatively, the lesion resolved completely.

Conclusion: Although rare, sparganosis should be suspected in a moving eyelid mass unresponsive to the medical treatment.