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Cysticercosis is a systemic parasitic infestation caused by ingesting the eggs of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The central nervous system (CNS) is the most important primary site of infection and disease can present with solitary or multiple space-occupying lesion. Other organs like subcutaneous tissues, muscles, heart, liver, lungs, and peritoneum are more frequently affected but maxillofacial region involvement is rare. The diagnosis of cysticercose is evoked on US examination and CT scan, but confirmation is only possible by Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] or histological examination in case of surgical removal of the oral lesion which can identify the Taenia solium larva. Solitary intramuscular cysticercosis in maxillofacial region, without involvement of CNS is a rare entity. We present a rare case of solitary temporalis muscle involvement without any systemic or neurologic infestation, which presented the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma along with review of literature., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Cysticercosis is a common parasitic infection caused by encysted larvae of the helminth Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). The central nervous system (CNS) is the most important primary site of infection and the disease can present with solitary or multiple space occupying lesions. Less common presentations in the CNS include the racemose variety with macroscopic groups of cysticerci in the subarachnoid space giving the appearance of a cluster of grapes and basal or ventricular cysticercosis causing obstructive hydrocephalus. Involvement of other organs: skeletal muscle, eyes, myocardium and the lungs has also been reported. Cases of cysticercosis presenting as isolated muscle mass (pseudotumours) without involvement of the CNS have also been recently described in the literature. We present a case of a 43-year-old woman who complained of subacute onset of left temporal pain and headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed characteristic imaging findings suggestive of cysticercosis of the temporalis muscle.