Dr.Amit Sethi
Dirofilariasis is a helminthic infection caused by parasites of the genus Dirofilaria.It is a common zoonotic disease affecting mostly dogs, foxes and cats and it rarely infects humans. It is endemic to Mediterranean countries and rarely found in Asia.
Our case a 33 yrs old pilot, presented with rapid onset swelling of right upper lid with chemosis of one day duration. MRI revealed a cystic lesion of right lacrimal gland. Managed initially as a case of lacrimal gland cysticercosis with antihelminthics and steroids.Subsequently excision biopsy was done with histopathology examination revealing lacrimal gland Dirofilariasis. Lacrimal gland dirofilariasis, to the best of our knowledge has been reported twice.First in Hong Kong in 2004 and second in Croatia in 2007. A third case was reported in India in 2005, in which the tissue around the lacrimal gland was involved .This seems to be the first report of lacrimal gland dirofilariasis in India and third in the world.
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