TRANSIENT HEMIFACIAL SPASM ASSOCIATED WITH SUBARACHNOID BRAIN-STEM CYSTICERCOSIS - A CASE-REPORT

The authors present the case of a 69 year old woman who developed blad der incontinence and confusion. A CT scan showed severe hydrocephalus and calcifications, prompting a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. On the day after operation the patient presented left hemifacial spasm . MR revealed a subarachnoid cysticercus rostral to the pens, and surg ical excision was proposed. She refused surgery and was placed on pred nisone. Brainstem auditory responses were absent on the left side 2 mo nths after shunting and were still abnormal 53 months later. The hemif acial spasm disappeared 3 months after shunt placement and has not rec urred in 5 years of follow-up.