Computed tomographic findings of cerebral paragonimiasis

ABSTRACT

Paragonimiasis is widely distributed in Far East and Southeast Asia, particularly in Korea. The centralnervous system is the most frequent location for paragonimiasis outside the lungs. We analized the computedtomographic findings of 17 cases which were diagnosed pathologically and clinically as cerebral paragonimiasis.The results were as follows; 1. The ratio of male to female was 107 and about 88% of cases were under the age of40 years. 2. The common location so cerebral paragonimiasis were the occipital (12 cases ) and temporal (11 cases) lobes. 3. Precontrast CT findings of cerebral paragonimiasis were low density with calcifications in 6 cases,low and isodensities in 4 cases, mixed densities in 3 cases, only low density in 2 cases and only calcification sin 2 cases. Hydrocephalus (7 cases), mass effect (6 cases), atrophic change(6 cases) and cyst formation (3 cases)were associated. 4. The shape of calcifications in CT scan were soap-bubble or ring in 6 cases, nodular or oval in6 cases, stippled in 4 cases and amorphous conglomerated in 2 cases. 5. The contrast-enhanced 8 cases were 5 ringor rim like, 2 nodular and 1 irregular enhancements, while 9 cases were not enhanced.