Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Apr 2012)

Bruns' syndrome and racemose neurocysticercosis: a case report

  • Roberta Diehl Rodriquez,
  • Denise Neme da Silva Crestani,
  • José Otávio Dworzecki Soares,
  • Paulo Roberto Franceshini,
  • Ronnie Petersen Alves,
  • Ricardo Zimerman,
  • Nelson Ferreira,
  • Liselotte Menke Barea

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822012000200027
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45, no. 2
pp. 269 – 271

Abstract

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Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia solium. The parasite may infect the central nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis (NCC). The clinical manifestations depend on load, type, size, location, stage of development of the cysticerci, and the host's immune response against the parasite. The racemose variety occurs in the ventricles or basal cisterns and is a malignant form. Mobile ventricular mass can produce episodic hydrocephalus on changing head posture with attacks of headache, vomiting, and vertigo, triggered by abrupt movement of the head, a phenomenon called Bruns' syndrome (BS). We report a patient with racemose NCC and BS.

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