Chiari Malformation and Hydrocephalus Masking Neurocysticercosis

Various diagnostic characteristics associated with neurocysticercosis have been well studied; however, their potential to be implicated in other differential diagnoses has not been well demonstrated.

We report the case of a 55-year-old Hispanic man who underwent a Chiari decompression surgery, which was complicated with hydrocephalus. Despite a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, he continued to have headaches and was soon found to have several skull base subarachnoid lesions, which were later diagnosed as the sequelae of an active neurocysticercosis infection.

This case report highlights the importance of overlapping symptoms between diseases in a short temporal context.