Extraocular muscle cysticercosis mimicking idiopathic orbital inflammation: case report

Presentation of one case of extraocular muscle enlargement caused by cysticercosis, its clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects, and review of the literature on this theme. A female 38-year-old patient with extraocular muscle enlargement and a small cystic lesion at the superior rectus muscle insertion was treated with oral prednisone for almost one year, with a non-specific inflammation of right orbit diagnosis. There were important ocular motility restriction and pain. Computerized tomography disclosed a superior rectus muscle thickening with a small cystic and apparently empty lesion at the muscle's insertion. Excisional biopsy and histopathological study confirmed the clinical suspicion of cysticercosis. There was partial resolution of the restricted motility. Extraocular muscle cysticercosis is the most common site of this disease when involving the orbit. Oral albendazole and prednisone are efficient, but a long history of disease can lead to important residual ocular motility restriction.