| Discussion: Neurocystocercosis is caused by infection of humans by the pork tapeworm, taenia solium. It can be acquired by eating infected and undercooked pork, or in other foods prepared by an infected individual who has failed to wash their hands or kitchen equipment.
The worm larva moves to the brain parenchyma (actually deep within a sulcus) where it encloses itself in a 1-2 cm cyst. Unable to complete its life cycle in a humna host, the larva dies. This leads to an inflammatory reaction and seizures, and later to calcifications.
This patient demonstrates both cysts and calicifications, indicating repeated infections. |
25 YO HISPANIC FEMALE WITH SEIZURES
