Isolated cardiac cysticercosis: treatment with or without steroids?

A CT scan of the heart confirmed the lesion was cystic and without any calcification; the coronary arteries were normal and, importantly, were not compressed by the mass. Serum serology by western blot testing for antibodies against specific IgG glycoproteins was negative for Echinococcus granulosus and Trypanosoma cruzi but positive for Taenia solium. The rapid response to anthelmintic therapy in this case—reassuringly confirmed on repeat imaging—shows that in select cases, such as this one, albendazole may be used without steroids, with close clinical and cardiac monitoring and serial imaging.