Isolated Intramedullary Lumbar Spine Neurocysticercosis: A Rare Occurrence and Review of Literature

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. Spinal cysticercosis is a rather rare clinical occurrence. Intramedullary (IM) spinal NCC is rarer still. Furthermore, cases of IM-NCC at lumbar levels are few and far between. We present a case of a 35-year-old male patient who was diagnosed to have IM-NCC at L2-3 level and was managed surgically with no recurrence at 2 years of follow-up. A systematic literature review (1992–2020) highlights it to be only the third case reported with exclusive lumbar involvement

Isolated spinal Intramedullary Neurocysticercosis: A rare case report and review of literature

“…5 Intramedullary lesions are much more uncommon, with only 46 cases recorded, while isolated intramedullary lesions are reported in only 25 cases. 3,6 Intramedullary cysticercosis is most common in the thoracic spinal cord, likely due to the spread of Taenia solium eggs through the bloodstream. Cervical and lumbar spinal cord cases are rarer than thoracic spinal cord cases.…”

“…Intramedullary presentations are often the least common, and only 46 cases have been recorded. 3 Here, we report a 50-year-old male patient with intramedullary cysticercosis at the T11 vertebral level. Surgical removal and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of intramedullary neurocysticercosis.…”

Mielopatía dorsal aguda como presentación atípica de una neurocisticercosis espinal

“…Las manifestaciones clínicas dependen del número de lesiones y de su ubicación. Su presentación va desde la debilidad motora (77%), dolor (64%), déficit sensorial (53%) y en menor frecuencia disfunción vesical e intestinal, ataxia de la marcha, entre otros 8 .…”

“…El tratamiento tiene múltiples enfoques; principalmente basado por una combinación del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico, con un éxito en 80% de los casos 8 . Respecto al tratamiento médico están indicados el uso de albendazol y/o praziquantel.…”

Case report and review of literature: Isolated intramedullary spinal neurocysticercosis

“…For diagnosis of spinal neurocysticercosis, a good clinical history is paramount ( 5 ). In our review of literature ( Table 1 ), 17 cases (68%) exhibited symptoms of motor weakness, 16 (64%) were with sensory symptoms (either radiculopathy or numbness/tingling with sensory level), seven (28%) had low back pain, and three (12%) had bowel/bladder difficulties.…”