The prevalence of human taeniasis has decreased in Korea. The stool egg positive proportion decreased from 1.9% in 1971 to 0% in 2004 in nationwide surveys. The neurocysticercosis (NCC) is also presumed to decrease. However, detailed information regarding the recent status of NCC in Korea is lacking. We retrospectively reviewed NCC cases from 1990 to 2016 at Asan Medical Center, a 2700-bed tertiary referral hospital in Korea. We identified patients based on clinical symptoms, brain imaging, pathology and serological assay. The cases were classified as parenchymal, extraparenchymal, and mixed NCC. Eighty-one patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 54.5 years, and 79.0% were male. The number of NCC cases was highest from 1995 to 1999, and continuously decreased thereafter. Forty (49.4%) patients had parenchymal NCC, while 25 (30.9%) patients had extraparenchymal NCC, and 16 (19.8%) patients had mixed NCC. The seizure and headache were most common symptom of parenchymal NCC and extraparenchymal NCC respectively. Hydrocephalus was more common in extraparenchymal NCC, and patients with extraparenchymal NCC were more likely to require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Cases of NCC are decreasing accordingly with human taeniasis and lesion location was the most important determinant of clinical presentation and outcome of NCC in Korea.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Korea ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis ; Neuroimaging ; Ovum ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Taenia solium ; Taeniasis ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Cysticercosis, a parasitic disease caused by Taenia solium metacestode (TsM), has a major global public health impact in terms of disability-adjusted life years. The parasite preferentially infects subcutaneous tissue, but may invade the central nervous system, resulting in neurocysticercosis (NC). NC is an important neglected tropical disease and an emerging disease in industrialized countries due to immigration from endemic areas. The prevalence of taeniasis in Korea declined from 0.3%–12.7% during the 1970s to below 0.02% since the 2000s. A survey conducted from 1993 to 2006 revealed that the percentage of tested samples with high levels of specific anti-TsM antibody declined from 8.3% to 2.2%, suggesting the continuing occurrence of NC in Korea. Modern imaging modalities have substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy of NC, and recent advances in the molecular biochemical characterization of the TsM cyst fluid proteome also significantly strengthened NC serodiagnosis. Two glycoproteins of 150 and 120 kDa that induce strong antibody responses against sera from patients with active-stage NC have been elucidated. The 150 kDa protein showed hydrophobic-ligand binding activities and might be critically involved in the acquisition of host-derived lipid molecules. Fasciclin and endophilin B1, both of which play roles in the homeostatic functions of TsM, showed fairly high antibody responses against calcified NC cases. NC is now controllable and manageable. Further studies should focus on controlling late-onset intractable seizures and serological diagnosis of NC patients infected with few worms. This article briefly overviews diagnostic approaches and discusses current issues relating to NC serodiagnosis.
Antibody Formation ; Central Nervous System ; Cyst Fluid ; Cysticercosis ; Developed Countries ; Diagnosis ; Emigration and Immigration ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Korea ; Neurocysticercosis ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Proteome ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea ; Seizures ; Serologic Tests ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Taenia solium ; Taenia ; Taeniasis

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) by Taenia solium is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system involving the cerebrum. However, spinal involvement of NCC is rare. Spinal NCC can cause radiculopathy, myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, and even paraparesis, depending on its location and size. Spinal NCC may require surgical treatment as a first-line treatment because medical therapy can further aggravate the inflammation due to dead cysts, resulting in clinical deterioration. The current standard therapy for spinal NCC is surgical decompression followed by medical therapy. We experienced a case of widespread thoracolumbar intradural extramedullary cysticercosis involving the spinal canal with cerebral cysticercosis. We report this rare case with literature review.
Central Nervous System ; Cerebrum ; Cysticercosis* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Neurocysticercosis ; Paraparesis ; Polyradiculopathy ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal* ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine ; Taenia solium

Albendazole (ADZ) and praziquantel (PZQT) have been used as anthelmintics for over 30 years. Worldwide, hundreds of millions tablets are administered to people and livestock every year. ADZ is poorly orally absorbed (< 5%), and its uptake is enhanced by high-fat meals, while PZQT is well absorbed (> 75%) and uptake is enhanced by carbohydrate-rich meals. Both ADZ and PZQT are safe, but not recommended for children < 2 years or for women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Serious adverse events occur following high dose and prolonged administration of these drugs for treatment of echinococcosis or neurocysticercosis, especially in patients with poor liver function. The adverse events may be induced by the drugs, or by the dead worms themselves. The Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management monitors drug-related adverse events in Korea, and its database included 256 probable or possible ADZ-associated events and 108 PZQT-associated events between 2006 and 2015. Such low incidence rates in Korea are due to the low single dose treatments of ADZ, and the short-term use of PZQT. The number of serious adverse events due to drug interaction induced by ADZ and PZQT were six and two, respectively. We conclude that ADZ and PZQT are generally safe drugs, but they must be used with caution in people with poor liver function or those being comedicated for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Albendazole* ; Anthelmintics ; Child ; Drug Interactions ; Echinococcosis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Liver ; Livestock ; Meals ; Mebendazole ; Neurocysticercosis ; Praziquantel* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Risk Management ; Tablets

Albendazole (ADZ) and praziquantel (PZQT) have been used as anthelmintics for over 30 years. Worldwide, hundreds of millions tablets are administered to people and livestock every year. ADZ is poorly orally absorbed (< 5%), and its uptake is enhanced by high-fat meals, while PZQT is well absorbed (> 75%) and uptake is enhanced by carbohydrate-rich meals. Both ADZ and PZQT are safe, but not recommended for children < 2 years or for women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Serious adverse events occur following high dose and prolonged administration of these drugs for treatment of echinococcosis or neurocysticercosis, especially in patients with poor liver function. The adverse events may be induced by the drugs, or by the dead worms themselves. The Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management monitors drug-related adverse events in Korea, and its database included 256 probable or possible ADZ-associated events and 108 PZQT-associated events between 2006 and 2015. Such low incidence rates in Korea are due to the low single dose treatments of ADZ, and the short-term use of PZQT. The number of serious adverse events due to drug interaction induced by ADZ and PZQT were six and two, respectively. We conclude that ADZ and PZQT are generally safe drugs, but they must be used with caution in people with poor liver function or those being comedicated for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Albendazole* ; Anthelmintics ; Child ; Drug Interactions ; Echinococcosis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Liver ; Livestock ; Meals ; Mebendazole ; Neurocysticercosis ; Praziquantel* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Risk Management ; Tablets

Neurocysticercosis is an infection of the central nervous system caused by the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. In the brain it occurs in two forms: parenchymal and extraparenchymal or racemose cysts. The clinical presentation of racemose cysts is pleomorphic, and is quite different from parenchymal cysticercosis. The clinical diagnosis of racemose cysts is quite challenging, with neuroimaging being the mainstay. However, the advent of newer brain imaging modalities has made a more accurate diagnosis possible. The primary focus of this article is racemose neurocysticercosis and its multitude manifestations, and includes a discussion of the newer diagnostic modalities and treatment options.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Neuroimaging ; Taenia solium

Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease affecting the central nervous system. Spinal involvement is rare in neurocysticercosis, and isolated spinal involvement without evidence of cranial involvement is even rarer. We report an unusual case of neurocysticercosis with isolated spinal involvement. A 59 year-old male presented with radiating pain in the left leg. He complained of aggravating weakness and numbness in the left leg since his previous visit one month ago. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple peripheral wall-enhanced intradural cystic masses from L1 to L5. The patient underwent a total laminectomy of L4. Dissection revealed abnormal cystic masses compressing the nerve roots. The cyst was punctured, spilling clear mucoid fluid into the surgical field. The exposed cysticerci, white and mucoid, was easily removed. Patient received course of steroids and oral albendazole. The patient experienced symptomatic improvement without further neurologic deficits except for mild sensory impairment. Clinicians should include spinal neurocysticercosis in differential diagnosis of radiculopathies. Although isolated spinal neurocysticercosis is rare, it can be satisfactorily managed with surgery and medication.
Albendazole ; Central Nervous System ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parasitic Diseases ; Radiculopathy ; Spine ; Steroids

Neurocysticercosis is the commonest parasitic disease of the human central nervous system. The incidence of intra ventricular form of neurocysticercosis (NCC) is less common accounting 10-20% that of total central nerve system cysticercosis. Intra ventricular NCC is complicated due, to its high incidence of acute hydrocephalus caused by ball valve mechanism. The only reliable tool for diagnosis of NCC is by neuroimaging with CT or MRI. MRI preferred over CT because of its high specificity and sensitivity. In emergency situations like acute hydrocephalus one can proceed with emergency endoscopic surgery. Through the endoscopic view, intra ventricular NCC (IVNCC) has distinguished morphological features like the full moon sign. This feature not only helps in identification of IVNCC, but also guides in further endoscopic treatment strategy. Authors report two cases of 3rd ventricular NCC with acute hydrocephalus managed with emergency endoscopy. Authors have discussed the clinical features, intra operative endoscopic findings and role of endoscopy in emergency surgery for NCC with acute hydrocephalus.
Central Nervous System ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Neuroendoscopy ; Neuroimaging ; Parasitic Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Brain metastasis can form large cystic lesions, and its differentiation on the basis of imaging findings alone is difficult. A 36-year-old woman with headache visited emergency room. Two years ago, she was diagnosed as neurocysticercosis and had taken anti-parasite medications. However, in the current visit, the sizes of intracranial cystic lesions increased. Brain biopsy reported metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, and chest CT showed the primary site of the tumor. Cystic brain metastasis should be considered in cases with cystic brain lesions.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pregnant Women* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Cysticercosis is the most frequent parasitic infection of the nervous system. Most lesions are intracranial, and spinal involvement is rare. We describe here in two cases of neurocysticercosis (NCC) in the brain and one in the spinal cord that illustrate three distinct mechanisms leading to symptomatic acute hydrocephalus. CASE REPORT: Hydrocephalus was related to intracranial NCC in two of them. In the first case the hydrocephalus was due to an extensive arachnoiditis to the craniocervical junction, while in the second it was caused by obstruction of Magendie's foramen in the fourth ventricle by the scolex of Taenia solium. For the third patient, hydrocephalus revealed cysticercosis of the cauda equina due to the scolex. CONCLUSIONS: NCC should be considered as a possible diagnosis for patients suffering from hydrocephalus when they originate from or have traveled in endemic areas, MRI of the spine is mandatory to search for intraspinal lesions.
Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Brain ; Cauda Equina ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nervous System ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Taenia solium