J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2004 Sep;36(3):235-238.

Cerebral Sparganosis with Apoplectic Presentation

• Park SH
• Lee CH
• Choe WJ
• Koh YC

Abstract

Cerebral sparganosis is a rare parasitic infestation of the brain, usually presenting with seizure associated with chronic recurrent inflammatory reaction. Recently we have treated a very unusual form of this parasitic disease, of which clinical onset was apoplectic. A 60-year-old man was transferred to our emergency room complaining of sudden onset of right hemiparesis and speech impairment. Computed tomography(CT) of the brain demonstrated high density lesion, suggestive of a hematoma in the left parietal subcortical region. Unusual location and shape of the hematoma made us took CT angiogram to confirm any vascular abnormalities in or around the hematoma. We performed an explorative craniotomy and evacuation of the hematoma under the guidance of stereotactic system. At surgery, a live parasite, a larva of a tapew (Spirometra mansoni) was found and removed with the hematoma.

Keyword

Cerebral sparganosis; Parasitic disease; Intracerebral hematoma; Larva; Tapeworm

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cestoda
Craniotomy
Emergency Service, Hospital
Hematoma
Humans
Larva
Middle Aged
Parasites
Parasitic Diseases
Paresis
Rabeprazole
Seizures
Sparganosis*