The Filarial Dance Sign: A Distinctive Sonographic Marker of Scrotal Filariasis in Endemic Settings

Authors

  • Sanket Vinubhai Davra
  • Kumar Pushkar

Keywords:

Scrotal filariasis, Filarial dance sign, Wuchereria bancrofti, Ultrasonography, Diethylcarbamazine

Abstract

Background: Scrotal filariasis is an uncommon manifestation of lymphatic filariasis (LF), typically seen in endemic regions. While chronic presentations like hydrocele are well recognized, acute involvement of the spermatic cord is often overlooked. High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) aids diagnosis, particularly when the characteristic filarial dance sign (FDS) is present.

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old male from an endemic area presented with right scrotal swelling and low-grade fever. HRUS revealed dilated, avascular lymphatic channels in the right spermatic cord with mobile echogenic structures showing swirling motion—consistent with FDS. The testis and epididymis were normal.

Management: The patient received a 12-day course of Diethylcarbamazine, with marked symptomatic and sonographic improvement.

Conclusion: FDS on ultrasound is a reliable, non-invasive marker of scrotal filariasis in endemic areas. Early recognition enables timely medical management and prevents unnecessary surgical intervention

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

World Health Organization. Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: Progress Report 2000–2009 and Strategic Plan 2010–2020. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lymphatic Filariasis: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Grove DI. Tissue Nematodes. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone; 2000. p. 246–247.

Reddy GS, Das LK, Pani SP. The preferential site of adult Wuchereria bancrofti: An ultrasound study of male asymptomatic microfilaria carriers in Pondicherry, India. Natl Med J India. 2004;17:195–6.

Amaral F, Dreyer G, Figueredo-Silva J, et al. Live adult worms detected by ultrasonography in human bancroftian filariasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1994;50(6):753–7. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1994.50.753

Arid MK. Scrotal Filariasis: The Importance of the Filarial Dance Sign in Scrotal Ultrasound. Open J Med Imaging. 2021;11(1):1–5. doi:10.4236/ojmi.2021.111001

Thankachan J, Mohandas NV, Venugopal PR, et al. Filarial Epididymitis: A Diagnostic Challenge in Pediatric Acute Scrotum. Cureus. 2024;16(11):e74534. doi:10.7759/cureus.74534

Leenknegt B, Diss L, Sidhu PS. Dancing megasperm. J Belg Soc Radiol. 2019;103(1):5. doi:10.5334/jbsr.1687

Downloads

Published

2025-05-22

How to Cite

1.
Davra SV, Pushkar K. The Filarial Dance Sign: A Distinctive Sonographic Marker of Scrotal Filariasis in Endemic Settings. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025May22 [cited 2025Oct.19];14(14S):900-3. Available from: https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/6297

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 14S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.