Testicular Dirofilariasis in an Italian 11-Year-old Child

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a rare infection caused by a vector-borne nematode that can be accidentally transmitted to humans. We report a case of a 11-year-old child with a painless scrotal cyst caused by Dirofilaria repens , initially suspected by ultrasound scan and then confirmed by histopathologic examination.

FIGURE 1.

Ultrasonographic and macroscopic aspect of Dirofilaria repens. A: Scrotal ultrasound showing a 8 × 10 mm cyst with peripheral vascularity containing echogenic linear undulating structures. These structures have the peculiar movements characteristic of the filarial dance sign on real-time ultrasonography; (B) the nematode was extracted intact alive from the cystic nodule. It shows spontaneous movements; (C) mature female worm of Dirofilaria repens.