Radiology findings in neurocysticercosis: A case report

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is a serious underreported tropical disease caused by the ingestion of Taenia solium eggs through fecal-oral contact. The infection can affect any organ but frequently affects the central nervous system, eyes, and muscles, and is able to remain dormant for years in the brain. Medical imaging is crucial in making the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis as there are no identifiable clinical symptoms of the condition. In this case, we present a 71-year-old man with neurocysticercosis diagnosed by CT scan, MRI and MR spectroscopy. Calcified nodules were found with surrounding vasogenic edema on CT scan. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed multiple lesions that were hypointense on T1-weighted image, hyperintense rim on T2-weighted image, with ring enhancement on postcontrast scanning characterizing granular nodular stage and multiple lesions that were hypointense on T1-weighted image and no signal on T2-weighted image characterizing nodular calcified stage of the disease. MR Spectroscopy showed decreased levels of choline, creatine, NAA, NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratio with increased levels of lactate and lipid.

Keywords

• Neurocysticercosis
• CT scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• Neuroradiology