An unusual presentation of cysticercosis as a chest wall mass: A case report

Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium and most commonly affects the brain. Cysticercosis presenting as a chest wall mass is rare and can pose a diagnostic challenge. We report the case of a 4-year-old female child who presented with a 3-month history of a progressively increasing, painless swelling on the right lateral chest wall. Examination revealed a 2 × 3 cm, well-defined, cystic mass in the anterior axillary line. Ultrasound suggested a subcutaneous epidermoid cyst; however, histopathology showed the presence of scolices within the cyst, lined by giant cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, revealing the diagnosis of cysticercosis. The patient was treated with albendazole and is clinically stable. This case report highlights the importance of considering cysticercosis in the differential diagnosis of chest wall masses, particularly in endemic countries.