Oral Cysticercosis: Importance of Early Diagnosis and Prevention

Cysticercosis is a result of parasitic infestation by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Cysticercosis affects various organs including oral cavity and an accurate clinical diagnosis in oral cysticercosis is usually not established. English literature was reviewed and analyzed on oral cysticercosis from the year 1980 to December 2021 as found through standard electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus) using search words as cysticercosis; oral cysticercosis; neurocysticercosis; C. cellulosae; T. solium; treatment of cysticercosis; and prevention of cysticercosis. Forty cases of oral cysticercosis from 13 publications were analyzed. Cysticercosis can cause oral cystic swelling or nodules and these may be the only evidence of the disease. Tongue was the most affected site. It can lodge at multiple sites including brain and eyes where it can cause serious complications. Two cases of oral cysticercosis were reported to be having the involvement of the brain. This review emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and prevention of oral cysticercosis which can have more serious systemic involvement. It is important to rule out the presence of the parasite in the brain or eyes through thorough investigations so as to avoid serious complications.