A Case Report of Extracranial Intramuscular Cysticercosis As Soft Tissue Swelling in the Forearm and Thenar Eminence

Cysticercosis, caused by the larval form of Taenia solium, remains a significant public health issue in developing countries. Neurocysticercosis is one of the commonest clinical manifestations. Extracranial cysticercosis may present intramuscularly as a pseudotumor-like mass, making the diagnosis challenging. Isolated muscular cysticercosis, typically linked to measly pork, can also affect vegetarians, as was seen in our patients. Such presentations are uncommon and may mimic other soft tissue swellings. Its varied presentation marks it as an emerging concern globally. We present two cases, a seven-year-old girl and a 29-year-old male, of isolated cysticercosis, one in the thenar eminence and the other in the forearm, respectively, with no neurological symptoms. The lesions were responsive to antiparasitic therapy. Both patients could be managed medically; surgery was not required. This case highlights a rare and unusual manifestation of cysticercosis, expanding the spectrum of extracranial intramuscular involvement. It underscores the importance of considering soft tissue cysticercosis in the differential diagnosis, as well as the role of imaging in the unexplained swellings. This case also highlights the role of medical management in such cases.