Submacular Cysticercosis Successfully Treated through Conservative Management: Case Report

Abstract

Appropriate medical management can be an alternative in those patients with submacular cysticercosis in whom achieving good visual outcome with vitreoretinal surgery is not possible. We report the case of a 25-year-old female who presented complaining of blurred vision in her left eye associated with photopsias and metamorphopsias of 3 months duration. Initial visual acuity in the right eye was 20/20 and 20/100 in the left eye. Upon indirect ophthalmoscopy in the left eye, a yellow-white, dome-shaped, elevated lesion with foveal involvement was observed. The rest of the ophthalmological examination proved normal. With clinical findings and images, submacular cysticercosis was diagnosed, and vitreoretinal surgery was suggested. Nevertheless, the patient did not accept the treatment; therefore, medical management was initiated. Central nervous system involvement was ruled out, and treatment with praziquantel and systemic prednisolone was initiated. Cysticercosis was resolved with significant improvement of her symptoms and visual acuity.

Keywords

• taenia solium
• metacestode
• submacular cysticercosis
• cysticercus