Muscular cysticercosis: Case report and imaging findings / Cisticercose muscular: relato de caso e aspectos de imagem

Summary Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by a worm of the Cestoda class. The most prevalent form affects the nervous system. This case report is from a 78-year-old female patient evaluated at Clínica Mult Imagem, in the city of Santos, Brazil, who presented a form of the disease that differed from the classic neurocysticercosis, in this case muscular cysticercosis. This and other forms of manifestation justify further studies to ensure adequate recognition, diagnosis and treatment of this parasitic disease.

Resumo A cisticercose é uma parasitose causada pela classe Cestoda. A forma mais prevalente acomete o sistema nervoso. Este relato de caso, obtido da Clínica Mult Imagem, em Santos, é de uma paciente do sexo feminino de 78 anos que apresentou uma forma diversa de neurocisticercose, a muscular. Outras formas de manifestação da doença, como a apresentada neste relato, justificam a realização de mais estudos para assegurar o reconhecimento, o diagnóstico e o tratamento adequados dessa parasitose.

Cisticercosis diseminada: reporte de un caso en Perú / Disseminated cysticercosis: report of a case in Peru

La cisticercosis es una enfermedad desatendida y endémica en el Perú que afecta comúnmente al sistema nervioso central (SNC), causando la neurocisticercosis (NCC). Sin embargo, son pocos los reportes de cisticercosis diseminada (CCD) en el mundo. Se reporta el caso de un paciente varón de 82 años, natural del departamento de Junín, que presenta pérdida brusca del nivel de conciencia asociada a convulsiones tónico-clónicas generalizadas. La tomografía axial computarizada y la resonancia magnética nuclear cerebral mostraron múltiples lesiones de aspecto quístico con presencia de escólex en su interior y compatibles con NCC masiva; la resonancia magnética nuclear torácica, abdominal y pélvica permitieron evidenciar la diseminación multiorgánica de cisticercos. Aunque es poca la casuística y experiencia terapéutica en los casos de CCD, el paciente recibió tratamiento antiparasitario con albendazol y corticoides, logrando una evolución clínica favorable y sin complicaciones durante la hospitalización.

Cysticercosis is a neglected and endemic disease in Peru that commonly affects the central nervous system (CNS), causing neurocysticercosis (NCC). However, only a few reports of disseminated cysticercosis (DCC) exist in the world. In this article we present a case report of a male, 82 year old patient from the department of Junin (Peru). He presented a sudden loss of consciousness associated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. CT scan and brain MRI showed multiple cystic lesions with scolex presence inside and compatible with massive NCC. Thoracic, abdominal and pelvic MRI showed multi-organ dissemination of cysticerci. Although there is little therapeutic experience in cases of DCC, the patient received deworming treatment with albendazole and corticoids, in this way a favorable clinical outcome was achieved without complications during hospitalization.

Helminth parasitic infections of the central nervous system: a diagnostic approach

Helminth parasitic infections of the central nervous system [CNS] occur worldwide with high prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries. Clinical evaluation of patients is mandatory, and it is convenient to group the clinical manifestations into syndromes: for example space-occupying lesions, meningitis, and encephalitis. The history should focus on residence or travel to endemic areas, diet, activities, inter-current medical conditions, and associated clinical clues. Direct parasitological diagnosis can be reached by cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral tissue examination either by microscopy, culture, or immunological techniques. Immunodiagnosis by detection of parasite antibodies or antigens in serum could provide indirect evidence of parasitic infections. In addition, various imaging and radiological techniques e.g., computed tomography [CT] scan and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] complement the diagnostic work-up of CNS diseases. Finally, the helminthic CNS infections of global impact, such as schistosomiasis, neurotoxocariasis, Strongyloides infection, neurotrichinosis, neurocysticercosis, and echinococcosis will be briefly discussed as regards the principal clinical and diagnostic features

Intravitreal cysticercosis presenting as neovascular glaucoma.

We report two cases of intraocular cysticercosis which showed a peculiar presentation of neovascular glaucoma which is hitherto unreported. Two young adults presented with symptoms of raised intraocular pressure due to neovascular glaucoma. On dilated fundus examination both were found to have dead intravitreal cysticercosis. The cysts were removed by a three-port vitrectomy and intracameral injection of bevacizumab was given to help in the regression of rubeosis. Trabeculectomy had to be combined in one case. The intraocular pressure returned to normal. No recurrence of rubeosis was seen even after one year.

Economic evaluation of seizures associated with solitary cysticercus granuloma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma (SCG) develop acute symptomatic seizures because of the inflammatory response of the brain and the seizures are self-limiting. Thus seizure disorder associated with SCG provides a good model to study the total cost of illness (COI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: COI of new-onset seizures associated with SCG was studied in 59 consecutive patients registered at the epilepsy clinic. Direct treatment-related costs and indirect costs, man-days lost and wages lost were evaluated. The relative cost was calculated as the percentage of per capita gross national product (GNP) at current prices for the year 1997-1998. RESULTS: The total COI, for treating seizure disorder associated with SCG per the period of CT resolution of the lesion per patient was INR 7273.7 (US$ 174.66, I$ 943.16) and he/she would be spending 50.9% of per capita GNP The direct cost per patient was INR 5916 (US$ 137.14, 41.4% of per capita GNP). If the patient had received only AEDs for the period of resolution of CT lesion, the cost would be INR 5702.48 (US$132.2, 40% of per capita GNP). The extra expenditure on albendazole and steroid was INR 213.72 (US$ 4.95), 3.6% of the total direct cost and 20.7% of the medication cost. Indirect cost (average wage loss) per patient was INR 1312.7 (US$ 30.42) and it accounted for 9% of per capita GNP. The one-time expenditure at present costs (adjusted for inflation) to the nation to treat all the prevalence cases is to the tune of INR 1.184 billion (US$ 2.605) and 0.0037% of GNP. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that seizure disorder associated with SCG, a potentially preventable disorder, is a good model to study the total COI. The one-time expenditure at present costs to the nation to treat all the prevalence cases of seizure disorder associated with SCG is to the tune of INR 1.184 billion (US$ 2.605 million) and 0.0037% of GNP.

Cisticercose intradural-extramedular cerebral e espinhal: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Intradural-extramedullary spinal cysticercosis with brain involvement: a case report and literature review

Relato de um caso raro de apresentação de infestação por cisticercose do espaço subaracnóide cerebral e intra-raquiano nas regiões cervical e torácica em mulher de 59 anos de idade, com náuseas, sinais de ataxia cerebelar e perda gradual da sensibilidade nas pernas. O diagnóstico foi feito por meio de imagens por ressonância magnética do cérebro e da coluna cérvico-torácica, que evidenciaram a presença de cistos nos espaços subaracnóides. O exame do líquido cefalorraquiano revelou teste imunológico ELISA positivo e elevado nível de proteína (420 mg/dl), indicativo de atividade da doença. Os parasitos foram removidos cirurgicamente pela necessidade de descompressão da medula espinhal torácica. Breve comentário sobre a patogênese da forma cística da cisticercose espinhal intradural-extramedular, aspectos das imagens de ressonância magnética e tratamento foram feitos com base nos achados de revisão da literatura.

Report on a rare case of infestation by cysticercosis involving the cerebral subarachnoid space and the epidural space in the cervical and thoracic regions of a 59-year old female patient who presented nausea, signs of cerebelar ataxia and gradual loss of the sensibility in both legs. The diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging of brain and cervical-thoracic spine demonstrating the presence of cysts in the subarachnoid spaces. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed on cerebrospinal fluid resulted positive and demonstrated a protein level of 420 mg/dl indicating the disease activity. Parasites were surgically removed for the necessity of thoracic spinal cord decompression. Based on findings of literature review, brief comments were made on the pathogenesis of the intradural-extramedullary spinal cysticercosis cystic form, magnetic resonance imaging findings and treatment.

Cardiomiopatia restritiva por cisticercose miocárdica / Restrictive cardiomyopathy due to myocardial cysticercosis

Não há descrição na literatura de comprometimento da função cardíaca associado à cisticercose. Os autores relatam o caso de uma mulher de 46 anos, portadora de cisticercose e insuficiência cardíaca, cujo ecocardiograma é compatível com cardiomiopatia restritiva e o aspecto miocárdico é de microcalcificações, sugerindo infiltração cardíaca pela doença.

Estudo da cisticercose em pacientes portadores de epilepsia residentes em municípios do Cariri paraibano / Cysticercosis research in epileptic patients dwelling in towns of the western Cariri in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

Este estudo contou com uma amostra de 110 pacientes epilépticos residentes no Cariri paraibano, tendo sido desenvolvido em três etapas sucessivas. Durante a primeira etapa, aplicou-se a ficha epidemiológica visando identificar fatores de risco associados ao complexo teníase-cisticercose na etiologia da epilepsia dos pacientes. A segunda etapa consistiu em exames imunológicos dos 110 pacientes com a utilização da técnica EITB para a identificação de anticorpos séricos anti-cisticercos, e da técnica ELISA para a presença de antígenos circulantes. Na terceira etapa, treze pacientes com sorologia considerada positiva foram submetidos a exames tomográficos. A partir da aplicação do questionário, foram detectados alguns fatores de risco. A soroprevalência constatada foi 118,2/1000 habitantes. Dos 13 pacientes com sorologia positiva para cisticercose, 46,1 por cento têm lesões sugestivas de cisticercose de localização parenquimatosa. Conclui-se que os municípios estudados apresentam perfil epidemiológico compatível com a ocorrência do complexo teníase-cisticercose e que a cisticercose possivelmente desempenhe papel importante no surgimento da epilepsia nesses pacientes.

Nervous complications in cerebral cysticercosis

Studty was conducted on 42 patients (32 males and 10 females, aged 14-55 years old) with taenia soluincyst in brain. The cyst was common at the age 20-49 years old, female 23.81% and male 76.19%. There was a diversity of nervous syndromes in both 2 hemispheres of brain, the most were intern-cerebral high pressure 95.2% and epilepsy 54.74%. Active forms of cyst accounted for 73.81%, needed for treating CT images of skull and brain showed a dispersion of the cyst in both 2 hemispheres of brain, consisted with the clinical symptoms.

Cysticercosis in Indonesia: epidemiological aspects.

Cysticercosis caused by the larval stage, cysticercus or cysticerci, of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium was recognized at first in Bali and in Paniai District, Irian Jaya (Papua), Indonesia in the 1970s. In the 1990s a rapid increase in the number of the cases of epileptic seizures and burns in Jayawijaya district, eastern Papua, was observed. There were a total of 1,120 new cases of burns (7.0%) and 293 new cases of epileptic seizures (1.8%) from 15,939 local people during 1991-1995. Both histopathological examination and mitochondrial DNA analysis of resected cysts from patients and pigs revealed cysticerci of T. solium. Antibody responses highly specific to cysticercosis were revealed in approximately 67% and 65% of persons respectively with epileptic seizures and with subcutaneous nodules. Therefore, most cases of epileptic seizures and burns were considered to be associated with cysticercosis in Papua. Additional serologically data from Bali showed that 13.5% of epileptic seizures (10/74) and 12.6% of asymptomatic individuals (94/746) were supposed having been exposed to T. solium. Histopathological evaluation of 80,000 tissue samples in East Java revealed that nine were cysticercosis. All cases were non-moslems and from two ethnic groups, Chinese and Balinese. Epidemiological data on cysticercosis are not available from other provinces of Indonesia, although cases of cysticercosis are occasionally reported. Therefore, other intensive epidemiological studies are strongly recommended, especially covering the eastern part of Indonesia.

An incidental case of breast cysticercosis associated with fibroadenoma.

It is unusual for cysticercosis to occur in the substance of the breast. Only a few cases have been described in the literature. We report a case of cysticercosis perched on fibroadenoma of breast found on surgical excision in a 35 year old Nepali woman. The patient had no discernible evidence of cysticercosis in the other organs.

Cysticercosis in epileptic patients of Mulungu do Morro Northeastern Brazil

With the aim to study the magnitude of infection by the metacestode of Taenia solium in a population of epileptic patients in the arid region of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, we examined 200 consecutive cases who attended an ambulatory clinic in the disctrict of Mulungu do Morro. Sixty-six of the patients had a diagnosis of epilepsy. From them 10 (15.2 percent) presented antibodies against a specific fraction of antigens in Western blot, and 4 (6.0 percent) had circulating parasite products, as tested by capture ELISA. Only 1 case was positive for antibodies and antigens. We found that the frequency of seropositivity was related to the time without epileptic seizure. We conclude that cysticercosis is endemic in the region of Mulungu do Morro and that it is related to a benign form of epilepsy

Epilepsia del adulto: estudio prospectivo de 130 casos / Epilepsy in the adult: prospective study of 130 cases

Introducción: la aparición de crisis epilépticas después de los 20 años de edad (epilepsia tardía) sucede en 20 a 25 por ciento de pacientes epilépticos. La etiología es muy variada e incluye cisticercosis, tumores, infartos cerebrales, etc. Aproximadamente 50 por ciento de estos pacientes presentan lesión cerebral estructural. Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo de 130 pacientes adultos con inicio de epilepsia después de los 20 años de edad, atendidos desde febrero de 1989 a junio de 1997. Todos los pacientes tuvieron TAC de cráneo y en aquellos que se consideró necesaria resonancia nuclear magnética cerebral. Resultados: se demostró lesión cerebral estructural en 51 por ciento de pacientes. La causa más frecuente fue la neurocisticercosis presente en 28 por ciento de casos, seguida de infarto cerebral (11 por ciento) y la atrofia cerebral (11 por ciento). Conclusiones. En nuestro medio la causa más frecuente de epilepsia del adulto sigue siendo la neurocisticercosis. Debido a la alta probabilidad de lesión estructural, todos estos pacientes deben estudiarse con TAC

Possible relationship between neurocysticercosis and hematological malignancies

Background. Previous studies have shown an increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in lymphocytes from animals and humans with cysticercosis. Some reports have suggested an association between neurocysticercosis and cancer. Methods. We designed a mortality rate study from the autopsy files of the Department of pathology at the General Hospital of Mexico. A total of 1,271 autopsy files were reviewed. All files in which a malignant neoplasia was found during autopsy were selected a cases. Autopsies in which no malignant disease was found were used as controls. The odds ratio was determined between the frequency of neurocysticercosis in patients with any malignant neoplasia and that of the controls. Results. Neurocysticercosis was more frequent in cases with malignant hematological diseases (MHD), than in controls (p= 0.01). The odds ratio for this association was 3.54, with 95 percent confidence interval from 1.17-9-79. Conclusions. Most human cancers arise from the interaction of a multiplicity of factors, indluding xenobiotics and endogenous constituents. Therefore, while it will be difficult to demostrate that neurocysticercosis is a causal agent of malignant hematological diseases (MHD), it should be considered as a potential risk factor for cancer induction in countries where cysticercosis remains a public health problem