Clinical Analysis of Cerebral Sparganosis

ABSTRACT

The tape-worm spirometra mansonoides infests man world-widely, particularly in Asian countries with rare involvement of the central nervous system. Recently, the authors have experienced 7 cases of cerebral sparganosis, and reviewed their clinical manifestation, radiographic findings, operative and pathologic findings, and follow-up results. The cerebral sparganosis manifests headache, seizure, or hemiparesis. Most of patient had episodes of eating frogs or snakes. The brain CT scan showed low density area with ipsilateral ventricular dilatation. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) test showed positive response to serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The best treatment for cerebral sparganosis mansoni is surgical removal, from which we confirmed 4(17%) cases of live worms in operative and patholgic findings, and most of the seizure disappeared or decreased after operation.