Turkish Neurosurgery
Imaging features of neurocysticercosis: analysis of consecutive 57 patients in 5 years
Anqi Xiao1, Hanjiang Zeng2, Jiahe Xiao2, Xiaoke Zhang3, Chao You1
1West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Neurosurgery, Chengdu, Sichuan,
2West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Radiology, Chengdu, Sichuan,
3West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Infectious disease, Chengdu, Sichuan,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16209-15.0
Aim:To investigate the imaging features of neurocysticercosis to provide clinicians with valuable information in the diagnosis and treatment.Material and Methods: 71 consecutive cases of neurocysticercosis diagnosed by CT and MRI in the duration from January 2009 to January 2014 in our institute were collected. Of all the cases, 57 patients met the recognized diagnostic criteria of neurocysticercosis. In this series, 55 cases were positive in ELISA examination, 3 cases were positive in cysticercosis IgG, and 11 cases were confirmed by surgery. 7 cases were performed CT examinations including enhanced CT in 1 case. 54 cases were received MRI examinations, including contrast-enhanced MRI in 46 cases. Therapeutically, 32 patients were given albendazole, while 25 patients were given praziquantel. In surgical treatment, 9 patients received lesion resections, and 1 patient performed hydrocephalus shunt and lesion excision.Results:Parenchymal cysticerci in 53 cases(92.9%), subarachnoid cysticerci in 39 cases(68.4%), ventricular cysticerci in 13 cases(22.8%) and spinal cysticerci in 1 case were demonstrated on CT and MRI. In total, the intracranial cysticerci involving multi-locations simultaneously were found in 39 patients. 35 cases were associated with leptomeningitis, 10 cases were with hydrocephalus. In 1 case, the cysticerci outside central nervous system were found. Conclusion: The imaging findings of the cysticerci, including their location, numbers, cystic sizes, capsular thickness, densities and signals of the scolexes, as well as the peripheral edema, have distinct value in timely making possible diagnosis of neurocysticercosis for clinicians.
Corresponding author : Chao You