Spinal Cysticercosis Minicking Lumbar Disc Herniation

ABSTRACT

Two cases of lumbar subarachnoid cysticercosis were surgically treated. Both of them developed low back pain and radiating pain in one or both legs. The diagnostic myelogram for lumbar disc herniation showed a movable oval cyst-like filling defect in the lumbar subarachnoid space in one case, and multiple fixed round filling defects in the other. The cystic lesions were successfully removed through laminectomy. In one case, as the cyst was movable, a radiofluoroscopic image intensifier was of considerable assistance. Following surgery the patients' symptoms cleared up and the pathological specimens revealed cysticerci cellurosae.