Cutaneous sparganosis

Sparganosis is an infection caused by migrating larvae of the cestode genus Spirometra. There have been similar to 62 cases of sparganosis reported in the United States. Although a subcutaneous mass is the most common manifestation, sparganosis is not well-described in the dermatology literature. We present a case of cutaneous sparganosis in a 52-year-old Filipino American woman. Histologically, the sections showed a granulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis containing a section of a sparganum. A transverse section of an intact sparganum reveals an eosinophilic cuticle, loose stroma, calcareous bodies, and smooth muscle fibers.