Solitary Neurocysticercosis Presenting with Focal Seizure and Secondary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Abstract

Objective: Rare disease Background: Neurocysticercosis is the most common central nervous system infection in developing countries. A wide array of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe neurological symptoms, is observed in patients diagnosed with neurocysticercosis, depending on the number of lesions, cyst location, cyst stage, parasite genotype, and host immunity. Case Report: We report the case of a 25-year-old Burmese man who presented with focal seizure and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Brain imaging studies revealed a 1-cm cyst, which showed rim enhancement, an eccentric scolex, and surrounding brain edema at the left superior frontal gyrus. His serum cysticercus antibody was positive. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with solitary neurocysticercosis based on clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, and positive serology. The patient received anti-parasitic and anti-seizure medications before surgical excision of the cyst via computed tomography (CT) scan navigation. Stereomicroscopic examination of the cyst revealed a parasite larva in a fluid-filled cyst, containing a scolex with hooks and 4 suckers, identical to that of Taenia solium. Molecular characterization of the parasite based on T. solium cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX-1) gene identified the species as being 99.7% identical to T. solium Asia genotype pre-viously reported from pigs in Thailand. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of neurocysticercosis seems to be declining, sporadic cases have been reported through-out the world and the prevalence may be underestimated. Differential diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in patients presenting with adult-onset epilepsy should be considered in disease-endemic areas.