[Developmental characteristics of Cysticercus cellulosae in the human brain and heart]

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cysticercosis, to classify the developmental phases of cysticerci found in human brains and hearts, and differentiate these according to the macro and microscopic aspects of the general pathological processes, and to compare the process found in the brains and hearts. Protocols from autopsies performed at the Hospital of the School of Medicine of the Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil, in the period from 1970 to 2000 were reviewed. The prevalence of cysticercosis was verified in 71 cases, of which 53 (74.6%) were encephalic cysticercosis and 18 (25.3%) cardiac cysticercosis. Nineteen cysticerci were analyzed, from 9 brains and 10 hearts. The cysticerci were classified according to their developmental stage: vesicular, colloidal vesicular, granular nodular and calcified nodular, with similarities between the macroscopic and microscopic diagnoses. Among the pathological processes found beta-fibrilosis and endocardial fibroelastosis are underscored. In addition, it was demonstrated that this classification may be applied both to encephalic and cardiac cysticercosis.