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Neuroimaging and pathological findings in a child with cerebral sparganosis. Case report
1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The authors report the case of a 6-year-old boy with cerebral sparganosis due to infection with a plerocercoid tapeworm larva of Spirometra mansoni. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an area of irregular long T2 signal in the right frontal lobe. When compared with images obtained 2 years earlier, the lesion appeared to have migrated into the parietal lobe. During surgery for the removal of a granuloma, the parasite was discovered and excised. Following surgery, the patient's neurological deficits markedly improved. The authors review the pathological and imaging features of cerebral sparganosis.
Insights
Cerebral sparganosis, a rare brain infection caused by Spirometra tapeworm larvae, was diagnosed in a child. Surgical removal of the parasite led to significant neurological improvement.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Cerebral sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection of the brain caused by plerocercoid larvae of Spirometra tapeworms.
- This condition is often challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms and varied imaging findings.
Observation:
- A 6-year-old boy presented with neurological deficits.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an irregular T2 signal lesion in the right frontal lobe, which appeared to have migrated to the parietal lobe over two years.
- The lesion was surgically removed as a granuloma.
Findings:
- The excised granuloma contained a plerocercoid larva of Spirometra mansoni, confirming cerebral sparganosis.
- Post-surgical intervention resulted in marked improvement of the patient's neurological deficits.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of pediatric brain lesions.
- Accurate imaging and prompt surgical excision are crucial for favorable outcomes in cerebral sparganosis.
- Further research into the pathological and imaging characteristics of cerebral sparganosis is warranted.