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Description
A 20-year-old young man presented with a painless epibulbar mass noted suddenly over the medial side of right eye (RE) 1 month back. Systemic history was insignificant and there was no history of trauma. On examination, visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes (B/E) with no limitation of ocular movements. On examination, a mass lesion measuring about 1 cm in its longest dimension was noted over the medial side of the RE, with no apparent compression effect (figure 1). Overlying conjunctiva was mildly oedematous and congested. The posterior extent of the mass could not be appreciated. Rest of the anterior and posterior segment examination of BE was within normal limits.
Ultrasound B-scan of the right orbit revealed the mass to be cystic in nature with a hyperdense echo within it, suggestive of epibulbar cysticercosis (figure 1). The cyst could not be differentiated as separate from the medial rectus. MRI showed the cyst to be 8.2×4.4×5.4 mm in size and to be closely placed near the muscle (figure 1). No intracranial cysts were seen. The absolute eosinophil count was found to be markedly increased to >5000 cells/cumm. Hence, the patient was started on oral albendazole (400 mg two times a day) and supplemented with oral steroids (0.5 mg/kg) after 2 days. One month post initiation of treatment, the eosinophil count normalised but the mass remained the same in size as before. It had however softened, turned yellowish in colour and on repetition of ultrasound the cystic cavity was found to be full of echoes (figure 2). The patient was advised to continue the oral therapy for another 4 weeks. However, the mass did not respond further to antihelminthic therapy and the overlying conjunctiva seemed to be inflamed more than prior.
Excision biopsy was therefore advised. During surgery, the mass was found to be free from the underlying conjunctiva and the medial rectus, and could be excised in toto. The grey brown mass in gross pathological examination measured 0.8×0.5×0.3 cm. Microscopic evaluation showed fibrocollagenous tissue with dense inflammatory infiltrate inclusive of eosinophils and plasma cells (figure 2). However, no evidence of parasite was seen in the biopsy specimen examined. Postoperative period was uneventful with no recurrences.
The management of intraocular cysticercosis is well defined and surgery is considered as the first line of management.1 The parasite may also lodge in extraocular sites like muscles or beneath the conjunctiva. Subconjunctival cysts are very frequently seen in close approximation with the recti muscles. Some authors have suggested conservative management for subconjunctival cysts as their natural course often involves spontaneous expulsion. However, in other circumstances, medical management may fail necessitating surgical excision, as seen in our case.
Following excision, typical microscopic features seen include oral or intestinal parts of the cestode.2 3 However, in our case, we could see only an organised inflammatory response to the parasite on microscopy. The authors are of the view that the parasitic infection may have resolved with medical treatment leaving behind the fibrous capsule with inflammatory reaction that was revealed on histopathological examination.3
Learning points
Epibulbar cysticercosis may not respond fully to antihelminthics at times necessitating excision biopsy.
Cases first managed with medical therapy may show inflammatory granulation tissue without definitive evidence of the parasite on histopathology.
Footnotes
Contributors BT, MD and GG worked up, imaged and diagnosed the patient. BT performed the surgery; GG did the microscopy; BT, GG and AR wrote the text; MD and AR critically revised the case report. BT is the overall guarantor.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.