An Asymptomatic Case of Radiologically Active Neurocysticercosis

Abstract

The case describes an 82-year-old right-handed Hispanic male with multiple chronic comorbidities complaining of upper and lower extremity weakness as well as paresthesias that had been worsening over the last two weeks. He had bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness that was worse on the right and he complained of not being able to walk on his own with several falls preceding admission because of this. There were no overt signs of spinal cord compression or cauda equina syndrome. Laboratory work-up was unremarkable with exception to mildly elevated acute phase reactants. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging later showed critical cervical compressive myelopathy at the C3-C4 level and multiple parenchymal and extra-axial enhancing lesions in the frontal lobes with associated calcifications suspicious for neurocysticercosis. Antihelminthic therapy was started and the patient underwent spinal fusion surgery with neurosurgery with an uncomplicated postoperative course-also lacking seizure activity of any kind.