Case Report

Thinking outside tuberculosis: A case of widespread active disseminated cysticercosis

Audrey R. Rumhumha, Suraya Arbee, Mapule P. Mlawuli, Megan van Gensen
South African Journal of Radiology | Vol 28, No 1 | a3016 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajr.v28i1.3016 | © 2024 Audrey R. Rumhumha, Suraya Arbee, Mapule P. Mlawuli, Megan van Gensen | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 25 August 2024 | Published: 29 November 2024

About the author(s)

Audrey R. Rumhumha, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Suraya Arbee, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mapule P. Mlawuli, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Megan van Gensen, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

A rare case of widespread disseminated cysticercosis was identified in a 32-year-old female patient from the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Initially, she displayed generalised nonspecific symptoms, leading to a misinterpretation of disseminated tuberculosis (TB). However, further radiological, haematological and pathological investigations revealed extensive dissemination of cysticercosis.

Contribution: Disseminated cysticercosis (DC) is a rare condition that can mimic symptoms of other diseases, including tuberculosis, highlighting the importance of considering it in endemic areas.


Keywords

active disseminated cysticercosis; disseminated tuberculosis; multiorgan parasitic infection; breast cysticercosis; neurocysticercosis; radiological investigations; immunocompromised; antihelminthics.

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