Cysticercosis in Nepal: a histopathologic study of sixty-two cases

Human cysticercosis, an infection caused by larvae of Taenia solium, is a major public health problem in many developing countries. Sixty-two of 23,402 biopsy cases have been detected as cysticercosis in the last 5 years in Patan Hospital. Most (82%) of the patients presented with solitary skin nodules, another 10% with nodules in the oral mucosa, and 8% in the breast. Forty cases were identified from the Kathmandu valley and the rest from outside Kathmandu. Most patients were younger than 30 years of age (mean, 21+/-11 years). Statistically, there was no difference between males (0.28%) and females (0.24%). The average size of cysticercosis was 19 mm in diameter, and the histology of cysticercosis showed fibrous walled cysts covered by several layered epithelioid cells with a few Langhans' giant cells and infiltration of eosinophils without caseous necrosis. These cysticercosis findings from an endemic area will be helpful for doctors who examine immigrant patients in nonendemic areas.