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Primary Intradural Extramedullary Cervical Spinal Cysticercosis
Vetrivel Muralidharan1, Bijesh Ravindran Nair1, Bimal Patel2
1Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
World Neurosurgery
|July 17, 2017
Summary
Spinal cysticercosis, a rare condition, can present as cervical myelopathy. Early surgical excision of spinal cysts is crucial for diagnosis and cord decompression, leading to full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Spinal cysticercosis affects 0.7%-3.0% of neurocysticercosis patients, often with coexisting intracranial disease.
- Intracranial lesions typically present as intradural extramedullary or intramedullary lesions in the thoracic and lumbar regions.
- Intradural extramedullary primary spinal cysticercosis causing cervical myelopathy is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 56-year-old man presented with progressive spastic quadriparesis.
- MRI revealed a ventrally located, intradural extramedullary, multiloculated cyst with an enhancing wall in the upper cervical region.
- Serological testing confirmed cysticercosis, and surgical excision of the cyst was performed.
Findings:
- Histological examination confirmed the cyst as a cysticercus cyst.
- The patient underwent surgical cyst excision followed by 2 weeks of albendazole therapy.
- Full recovery was observed 1 year post-surgery.
Implications:
- Cysticercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal subarachnoid cysts.
- Surgical intervention is vital for diagnosis, spinal cord decompression, and optimal patient outcomes.
- Prompt surgical management followed by medical therapy can lead to complete neurological recovery.
