[Cerebral paragonimiasis with peculiar calcified foci: a case report]

In Japan more than 400 cases of intracranial invasion of Paragonimus westermani have been reported. In recent years, however, because of the decrease of incidence of parasitic disease, erroneous diagnosis is apt to be made. Peculiar but characteristic calcified cystic lesions in chronic stage of cerebral paragonimiasis were described as "soap bubble appearance" in x-rays by Oh in 1968. We report such a case with calcified lesions of soap bubble appearance in plain x-ray films in the right parieto-occipital region. The patient was a 30-year-old man who had generalized convulsive seizures since childhood. CT scan revealed these lesions to have high density in the margin and relatively low density in the center. Recently some cases of cerebral involvement by Paragonimus miyazakii were reported in Japan. The immunoserological tests are most useful for the diagnosis of paragonimiasis. Bithionol administration is the treatment of choice in acute stage. Calcified lesions with positive serological tests in two years after the onset of cerebral signs should be removed surgically, if possible.