Spinal Neurocysticercosis: A Rare Variant of a Common Parasitic Infection

Abstract Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection affecting the central nervous system, usually involving the brain parenchyma, intracranial subarachnoid space, or ventricular system. In rare cases, there is involvement of the spine (vertebral, epidural, subdural, arachnoid, or intr...

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Published inArquivos brasileiros de neurocirurgia Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 66 - 70
Main Authors Mesquita Filho, Paulo Moacir, Azambuja Junior, Nério Dutra, Vanzin, José Ricardo, Annes, Rafael DAgostini, Varela, Daniel Lima, Araújo, Moisés Augusto de, Araújo, Vanderson Rodrigo de, Bregalda, Candice Ghelen, Lacerda Almeida, Timóteo Abrantes de
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda 01.03.2017
Subjects
Case Report | Relato de Caso
neurocysticercosis
spinal neurocysticercosis
spine
spine
neurocisticercose espinhal
coluna
spinal neurocysticercosis
neurocysticercosis
neurocisticercose
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Summary:Abstract Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection affecting the central nervous system, usually involving the brain parenchyma, intracranial subarachnoid space, or ventricular system. In rare cases, there is involvement of the spine (vertebral, epidural, subdural, arachnoid, or intramedullary). Even in endemic regions, this variant is rare, with an incidence below 5% of all patients. The diagnosis is made based on the symptoms, which can be very unspecific, imaging and CSF analysis, with biopsy as a possibility. Treatment is usually curative, but important deficits can develop, due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, arachnoiditis, or meningitis. We present the case of a patient who developed this entity, with poor clinical scenario, and review the literature on the topic.
ISSN:0103-5355
2359-5922
DOI:10.1055/s-0035-1571268