Cysticercosis presents a prevalent issue on a global scale. Nevertheless, disseminated cysticercosis (DCC) is infrequent; even rarer is asymptomatic DCC. Here, we present a unique case of asymptomatic DCC involving the heart in a young male who came to medical attention following a fatal snake bite, ultimately leading to his demise. Despite the widespread dissemination of cysticercosis affecting multiple organs, the individual remained asymptomatic for the condition. We present a case of a 23-year-old male who was brought to the emergency department with a history of alleged snake bites. The patient was declared dead upon arrival at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India. Autopsy findings revealed multiple significant cardiac abnormalities, including atheromatous changes with calcification in the root of the aorta and aortic valve, along with numerous collateral vessels originating from the left main coronary artery. Additionally, cystic nodules containing cysticercus larvae were identified within the myocardium, suggesting cardiac cysticercosis. The cause of death was determined to be complications related to the snakebite. This case emphasizes the importance of considering multiple potential etiologies in complex clinical presentations, especially in the tropics.

Cardiac cysticercosis is a rarely encountered form of cysticercosis, caused by the larval cyst of tapeworm (Taenia solium). It commonly affects the central nervous system; however, systematic involvement has been reported as well. We describe a case of isolated cardiac cysticercosis incidentally discovered in a 16-year-old female undergoing surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), with no prior history of parasitic infestation. Our objective is to highlight the importance of cardiac cysticercosis as a differential finding in epicardial cystic masses which may be missed or misinterpreted on imagining modalities and to the limited literature on this particular rate manifestation of cysticercosis.

Cardiac cysticercosis is rare in clinical practice and is usually accidentally identified during cardiac surgery or autopsies. Although mostly asymptomatic, cardiac cysticercosis could present with severe clinical conditions such as myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia. We present a 51-year-old female patient who accidentally discovered a solitary mass in the myocardium. The cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nonenhanced cyst in the interventricular septum protruding into the right ventricular chamber. Because of cardiac tamponade presenting during a right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy, an emergency open-heart surgery was performed to suture the ventricular wall perforation and remove the tumor. The histopathologic report demonstrated typical cysticercosis. Cardiac cysticercosis is an uncommon lesion and may present with atypical clinical and laboratory features. Therefore, this diagnosis should be considered single or multiple cardiac cystic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Cysticercosis is a World Health Organization designated neglected human zoonosis worldwide. Data on cardiac cysticercosis and its contribution to sudden and unexpected community deaths are scarce and require study.
METHODS: A study was performed of cysticercosis-related deaths and other incidental cases of cysticercosis seen at forensic post-mortem examination over a period of 12 months, in individuals who died suddenly and unexpectedly in the community in Lusaka, Zambia. Whole-body post-mortem examinations were performed according to standard operating procedures for post-mortem examinations. Representative samples were obtained from all body organs and subjected to histopathological examination. Information was obtained on circumstances surrounding the death. Data were collated on patient demographics, history, co-morbidities, pathological gross and microscopic findings, and forensic autopsy cause(s) of death. The available literature on cardiac cysticercosis was also reviewed.
RESULTS: Nine cases of cysticercosis were identified. Eight of the nine cases had cardiac cysticercosis. There was no prior history of cysticercosis before death. All were male, aged between 28 and 56 years, and from high population density and low socioeconomic communities. There was no community case clustering identified.
CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis are important incidental findings in sudden and unexpected deaths in the community and can easily be missed antemortem. More investment in forensic autopsy services is required to define the undiagnosed burden of deaths due to treatable communicable diseases.

暂无摘要。