[Human dirofilariasis: discovery of a gravid female of Dirofilaria repens in a subcutaneous nodule].

A case of human subcutaneous dirofilariasis occurred in a 53 years old woman from Scafati (Salerno province). It was localized in the left submammary region. The patient was operated 16 years ago for a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. For this reason a metastasis was clinically suspected. The histological examination revealed the presence of a granulomatous nodule formed around a Dirofilaria repens gravid female in the subcutaneous tissue. The presence of microfilariae in the uterus of the nematode would suggest that also a mature male was present at the same time in the patient, although it was not possible to localise it. Haematic eosinophilia was observed.