NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS

A 54-year-old female patient with a 10-year history of ventriculoperit oneal shunt resulting from communicating hydrocephalus of undetermined aetiology is reported. Transient gait disturbances and cerebral infar ction at the age of 46 did not lead to further insights into the natur e of disease, After many years only occasional disturbances, a distinc t organic brain syndrome developed, Thorough examination led to a tent ative diagnosis of neurocysticercosis; this was based on the history, liquor diagnosis and cerebral microcalcifications in CT, Despite the i nitiation of specific therapy, the patient died of the sequelae of the disease. At autopsy, characteristic cicatricial residues of mainly ba sal leptomeningitis were found with collapsed parasitic cysts, Additio nal intracerebral mesenchymal-glial reactions were less conspicuous. R esidual ependymitis had caused aqueductal stenosis, Death was due to c achexia, bronchopneumonia and a lung abscess. The clinical course and morphology of neurocysticercosis are discussed. The disease has become rare in our country, but is globally the most important parasitic dis ease of the central nervous system.