NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS - A REPORT OF 4 CASES

Cysticercosis is an uncommon disease in Australia. Only 4 cases of neu rocysticercosis were found in our hospital with an active neurosurgica l service over a 10 yr period. All 4 cases were migrants, 3 from South America and one from Cyprus. Epilepsy, aseptic meningitis and raised intracranial pressure were the common symptoms. Although the cerebral lesions were seen on CT scans, misinterpretation of the X-ray appearan ces readily occurs and the diagnosis can only be confirmed by histopat hological examination of tissues. The pathological features are descri bed including electron microscopy of one case. The cysticercus has a u nique ultrastructure which is most helpful in establishing the diagnos is in cases where tissue sample is small and light microscopy is diffi cult. Neurocysticercosis can masquerade as a glioma or other space occ upying lesion or aseptic meningitis. This condition should be consider ed in obscure neurological syndromes in migrants from affected regions of the world.