J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Jul;29(7):1018-1020. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.7.1018.

A Case Report of Testicular Sparganosis Misdiagnosed as Testicular Tumor

• Park WH
• Shin TY
• Yoon SM
• Park SH
• Kang YJ
• Kim DK
• Han JY
• Seong DH

• KMID: 1789965
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.7.1018

Abstract

Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation of human by plerocercoid larvae. Sparganum is usually reported to be found in the subcutaneous tissues as well as other organs, including scrotum. However, testicular sparganosis is extremely rare, because of strong capsule of tunica albuginea. An urban-living 54-yr-old Korean man presented with left scrotal pain for 6 yr. Both testes look normal physically. Ultrasonography revealed poorly defined, heterogeneous mass with increased echogenicity in the left testis. This case was misdiagnosed as testicular tumor and underwent orchiectomy, but was diagnosed as testicular sparganosis by histopathology. Sparganosis should be included for differential diagnosis of testis tumor in countries where sparganosis is prevalent.

Keyword

Sparganosis; Testis

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Errors
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Orchiectomy
Sparganosis/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography
Testicular Neoplasms/diagnosis/ultrasonography
Testis/pathology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Ultrasonography of the left testis. (A) A 0.4 × 0.5 × 0.4 cm sized poorly defined, heterogeneous mass with increased echogenicity. (B) Hypoechoic ring identified around the mass forming a "tubule-in-a-tubule" appearance.

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  Fig. 2 Histopathological findings of the left testis. (A) A sparganum surrounded by abscess and necrotic materials is present within the testicular parenchyma. White arrows indicate seminiferous tubules, a black arrow indicates tunica albuginea, and a white triangle rete testis (×12.5). (B) The sparganum shows tortous recess of the bothrium, tegument, longitudinal layer of the smooth muscle, and loose internal stroma and multiple calcarous bodies are present in the loose internal stroma (×40).

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