Oral cysticercosis: a collaborative study of 16 cases

Cysticercosis is a potentially fatal parasitic disease that rarely involves the oral region in humans. This study includes 21 lesions seen in 16 Latin American patients. There were 8 men and 8 women, with an age range from 6 to 67 years (mean 33.6 years). Most cases appeared as asymptomatic submucosal nodules that resembled mucous cysts or benign mesenchymal neoplasms. Most were found in the tongue (11 cases), followed by buccal mucosa and the lower lip (4 cases each) and upper lip (2 cases). These were well circumscribed, and ranged in size from 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter. Typical histologic features of viable cysticerci were observed in 15 cases, and the presence of colloid degeneration and granular mineralization were detected in only 1 case. In all cases, simple surgical excision was sufficient to ensure complete removal of the lesions without postoperative complications. It is important to carry out a detailed study in every case, in order to exclude the presence of the parasite in other sites.