Cysticercosis of the oral mucosa: aspiration cytologic diagnosis

Oral mucosa is a rare site for cysticercosis. This paper describes eight cases of cysticercosis involving the oral cavity: four in the buccal mucosa, two in the lips, one in the tongue and one in the gums. All of the patients presented with a solitary superficial mucosal nodule, with duration varying from one month to three years. Larval fragments of cysticercus cellulosae on an inflammatory background were seen in cytologic smears in all cases. Diagnosis of cysticercosis was clinically unsuspected in all these cases prior to aspiration cytologic diagnosis.