Isolated cysticercosis of the cauda equina

Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is an endemic condition in developing countries, but the incidence rate is increasing in developed countries as well because of rising immigration. Spinal involvement is quite rare and it is usually associated wit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurosciences in rural practice 2013-08, Vol.4 (5), p.117-119
Main Authors: Iacoangeli, Maurizio, Moriconi, Elisa, Gladi, Maurizio, Scerrati, Massimo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Case Report
Case studies
Cauda equina
Cysticercosis
Diagnosis
Physiological aspects
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is an endemic condition in developing countries, but the incidence rate is increasing in developed countries as well because of rising immigration. Spinal involvement is quite rare and it is usually associated with concomitant intracranial infective lesions. We present an unusual case of a 44-year-old woman who experienced a cauda equina syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed two intradural cystic lesions at L4-L5 level. Only after histological examination the diagnosis of cysticercosis was definitively determined. The entire neuraxis evaluation confirmed that it was a rare form of isolated intradural racemosus type cysticercosis of the cauda equina. Steroids and albendazole were administered and post-operative course was uneventful. In this paper we discuss clinical, pathogenic and therapeutic aspects of this infective pathology.
ISSN:0976-3147
0976-3155
DOI:10.4103/0976-3147.116440