[Course of cerebral cysticercosis]

In the light of 4 cases of cerebral cysticercosis observed in the period 1970-1976 in Zabrze the authors call attention to the possibility of a very long, lasting even tens of years, time period preceding development of intracranial hypertension and to the diagnostic difficulties in this period. If immunological reactions are negative and the cerebrospinal fluid is normal, presence of calcified cysts in skeletal muscles visible on radiograms may be helpful. An uncertain syndrome of cerebral manifestations in a patient with occupational exposure (butchers) requires ruling out of cysticercosis. Three of these patients were butchers. In 2 plain radiograms showed calcified cysticerci in the muscles, in one they were present in the brain.