Neurocysticercosis in a preschool-age child: case report

Abstract

-Neurocysticercosis is a frequent cause of epilepsy and other neurologic abnormalities in all age groups, however by virtue of its prolonged incubation period as well as young children's nutritional habits, it is rarely seen in preschool-age children. The objective of this study is to report the case of a 2 ½ year-old child who presented with new-onset seizures. Her diagnostic features, including neuroradiologic findings, are described and compared with the literature. No matter how young he or she may be, every child who presents with newonset seizures or other unexplained neurologic features and whose CT or MRI shows cystic lesions or contrastenhancing rounded lesions should raise a suspicion of neurocysticercosis.KEY WORDS: cysticercosis, CNS, childhood, CT, MRI. Neurocisticercose em uma criança pré-escolar: relato de casoRESUMO -A neurocisticercose é causa freqüente de epilepsia e outras manifestações neurológicas em todas as faixas etárias, mas devido ao seu período de incubação longo e aos hábitos alimentares das crianças pequenas, raramente é vista em pré-escolares. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever o caso de uma criança de 2,5 anos de idade que se apresentou com convulsões de início recente. As manifestações clínicas que levaram ao diagnóstico e os achados neurorradiológicos são descritos e comparados com a literatura. Até mesmo nas menores faixas etárias, toda criança que se apresentar com convulsões ou outras manifestações neurológicas inexplicadas e cuja TC ou RM mostrar lesões císticas ou lesões arredondadas captantes de contraste deve levantar a suspeita de neurocisticercose.

Dodging the scalpel-migration of intraventricular neurocysticercus cyst occurring during surgery

“…Our case presented with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial tension without features of meningitis/focal neurological deficit suggesting viability of the cyst. Migrating deformable cyst causes intermittent or abrupt CSF obstruction due to a ball-valve mechanism [13]. The potential sites of obstruction due to change in head position include the foramen of Monro, third ventricle, aqueduct of Sylvius, and fourth ventricle (most common) [7].…”

Diagnosis of Neurocysticercosis by Computed Tomography: How Much More Do Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Serology, in addition, Contribute?

“…Neurocysticercosis, related to poverty and poor sanitation, has been reported to be a problem among patients belonging to third and fourth decades of life (11) . It is reported to be less common in children and elderly (12,13) . In the series reported here, patients in the second and third decades of life accounted for 56.8% of the patients studied and children below 10years accounted for 37.2% of the patients.…”