Neurocysticercosis

Question 1

which areas are endemic to neurocysticercosis?

Answer 1

central and south america,

sub saharan africa and asia

Question 2

Presentation of neurocysticercosis?

Answer 2

mexican immigrant with seizure.

• headache and seizure (brain parenchyma)
• obstructive hydrocephalus and confusion (intraventricular and subarachnoid space)
• radiculopathy/myelopathy (spine)
• visual loss/ eye pain diplopia (ocular)

Question 3

How to diagnosis neurocysticercosis?

Answer 3

CT or MRI with
viable cysts (5-20 mm round hypodense lesions w/o enhancement)
enhancement/edema as cysts degenerate
calcified granulomas
ELISA for equivocal cases

Question 4

Treatment of neurocysticercosis?

Answer 4

albendazole and or steroids.

Question 5

What causes neurocysticercosis?

Answer 5

Taenia solium (pig tapeworm) and eggs shed into the stool of human tapeworm carriers. Cysts can develop into the brain parenchyma and or the intraventricular space or subarachnoid space, spine, or eyes.

can stay asymptomatic for 3-5 yrs until the cysts degenerate and no longer evade host defenses and inflammation results in seizures and headache.