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Published on: July 28, 2014
Ultrasound-Assisted Neuronavigation-Guided Removal of a Live Worm in Cerebral Sparganosis
Sunday Nkwerem1, Tetsuya Goto2, Toshihiro Ogiwara2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, Nigeria.
Background:
Cerebral sparganosis is a rare zoonotic infestation that often mimics glioma and metastatic tumors.
Case Description:
A 71-year-old man presented with disturbing dysarthria. Initial neuroimages were suggestive of glioma. However, the histology was suggestive of inflammatory lesion. Follow-up neuroimages and serology were suggestive of sparganosis. He subsequently had craniotomy with ultrasound-guided aspiration of a live worm. Saline-soaked Surgicel was used to provide an acoustic window.
Conclusions:
Ultrasonography was helpful in the intraoperative localization of the worm and is recommended when intraoperative magnetic resonance is not readily available.
