Toxoplasmosis presented as a submental mass: a common disease, uncommon presentation

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015 Mar 1;8(3):3308-11. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Submental mass secondary to toxoplasmosis is not common in clinical work. A diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is rarely considered by physicians. Here we describe a 50-year-old woman presented with a progressive, painful, submental and left neck swelling for 1 month. After having obtained an insufficient evidence from the fine-needle biopsy, the patient finally received an excisional biopsy which highly indicated the possibility of lymphadenopathy consistent with toxoplasmosis. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was finally established by a combination of the pathological criteria, together with the positive serological finding. According to review the clinical presentations, pathological characteristics, diagnostic standard and treatment of this disease, the article aims to remind otolaryngologists who are evaluating a neck mass should be aware of the infectious cause of lymphadenopathy and the possibility of toxoplasmosis.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis; diagnosis; lymphadenopathy; toxoplasma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Edema / diagnosis
  • Edema / parasitology*
  • Edema / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphadenitis / diagnosis
  • Lymphadenitis / parasitology*
  • Lymphadenitis / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Pain / parasitology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Factors
  • Serologic Tests
  • Toxoplasmosis / complications
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents