| The "filarial dance" is not characteristic of filariasis: observations of "dancing megasperm" on high-resolution sonography in patients from nonendemic areas mimicking the filarial dance and a proposed mechanism for this phenomenon. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21795491 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The objective of this series was to show that the sonographic appearance described as the "filarial dance" is not characteristic of filariasis but occurs in nonendemic areas as a manifestation of epididymal obstruction. An experienced observer documented cases after initial observation of the filarial dance in routine clinical practice using high-frequency linear array transducers. The filarial dance was described as excessive to-and-fro movement of echogenic particles within a prominent epididymis and graded 1 to 4 according to the extent and distribution of the abnormality. The country of birth, exposure to filarial infection or travel to a filarial-endemic area, previous scrotal surgery including vasectomy, any previous or current scrotal inflammatory disease, and any congenital testicular abnormalities were recorded. Over a 10-year period, sonographic appearances consistent with the filarial dance were observed in 18 patients (bilateral in 6). The mean patient age was 47.7 (range, 28-91) years. The abnormality was graded in the 24 affected testes as follows: grade 1, n = 3; grade 2, n = 8; grade 3, n = 8; and grade 4, n = 5. No patient had a history of filariasis or travel to an endemic area. Six of 18 patients (33.3%) had bilateral vasectomies; 5 (27.8%) had a history of epididymo-orchitis in the ipsilateral testis; 3 (16.7%) had previous scrotal surgery; and 4 (22.2%) had no relevant urologic history. We have described a sonographic appearance identical to the filarial dance in men with no history of filarial infection. Most had previous scrotal surgery or infection, suggesting that the filarial dance may not always be due to movement of filarial worms. The unifying condition in patients with filariasis and our patients is lymphatic obstruction, likely the underlying cause of the appearance in both groups. |
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Authors:
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Margaret Adejolu; Paul S Sidhu |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Volume: 30 ISSN: 1550-9613 ISO Abbreviation: J Ultrasound Med Publication Date: 2011 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-07-28 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8211547 Medline TA: J Ultrasound Med Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1145-50 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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BSc, MRCP, Department of Radiology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, England. paulsidhu@nhs.net. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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