CSF-VP shunt placement and albendazole therapy for cerebral cysticercosis

Cerebral cysticercosis is the most common worldwide parasitic infection of the central nervous system. Intraventricular involvement is apparent in 15% to 28.8% of cases with neural compartment infestation.' Although different forms of the disease (parenchymatous, subarachnoid, and mixed form ) have been treated successfully with chemotherapy, direct surgical excision of simple cystic lesions appears to be an adequate primary therapeutic strategy in the majority of intraventricular forms. In recent years, however, some authors have advocated the use of anthelmintic treatment in all cases of intraventricular cysts so that surgical procedures of the posterior fossa and their potential complications can be avoided. The strict definition for managing the spectrum of intraventricular infestation remains controversial. We present our experience in the treatment of a patient with primary isolated intraventricular cysticercosis.