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Neurological picture
Isolated spinal neurocysticercosis
  1. Marc Hackius1,
  2. Athina Pangalu2,
  3. Alexander Semmler1
  1. 1Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  2. 2Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  1. Correspondence to Dr A Semmler, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zurich 8091, Switzerland; alexander.semmler{at}usz.ch

https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2013-307142

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    A 46-year-old woman from Brazil complained about increasing headaches for 2 weeks. On admission, she presented with neck rigidity and disorientation. The cranial MRI was unremarkable (figure 1A). The cerebrospinal fluid showed 133 leucocytes/μL with 38% eosinophils. Serum anticysticercal antibodies were 106 (ELISA, standard value ≤0). The spinal cord MRI showed one cystic lesion in the cervical subarachnoid space and multiple cystic lesions in the lumbar subarachnoid space (figure 1B–D). A diagnosis of pure spinal neurocysticercosis was made. Anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory treatment was initiated with albendazol (2×400 mg/day) and steroids (prednisone 60 mg/day) for 4 weeks. During this treatment, the patient's symptoms improved …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MH drafted the manuscript, AP contributed MRI interpretation, and AS revised the manuscript.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.