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Case Report
Korean J Obstet Gynecol. 2010;53(8):746-751. Published online August 1, 2010.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.8.746
Vulva sparganosis misdiagnosed as a Bartholin's gland abscess.
Tae Hee Kim, Hae Hyeog Lee, Soo Ho Chung, Boem Ha Yi, Jeong Ja Kwak, Hae Seon Nam, Sang Heon Cha
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. hhl22@schbc.ac.kr
2Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
3Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
4Department of Parasitology, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea.
5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of diphyllobothroid tapeworms belonging to the genus Spirometra, as first described by Manson in 1882. The infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water, frogs, and snakes, and contact between a second intermediate host and an open wound or mucus membranes. Humans are accidental hosts in the life cycle, but dogs, cats, and other mammals are definitive hosts. Once a human becomes infected, the plerocercoid larvae migrate to a subcutaneous location, where they typically develop into a painful nodule. We misdiagnosed vulva sparganosis as a Bartholin's gland abscess. The patient was a green consumer, so she may have been infected by consuming health foods. Sparganosis should be considered as a cause of soft tissue masses especially among patients who have ingested health foods.

Keywords :Sparganosis;Bartholin's gland abscess

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