[Cerebral cysticercosis treated with praziquantel--a case report]

We report a patient with cerebral cysticercosis treated with praziquantel. The patient, a 30-year-old man, was admitted to our hospital with a 12-year-history of generalized convulsion. MRI of the brain showed multiple cysts and the largest one in the right frontal lobe measured 3 cm in diameter. The intensity of cyst contents was same as that of the CSF on T1- and T2-weighted images. X-Ray of extremities and blood examinations showed no abnormal findings. The immunological testing for cysticercosis was negative in the serum. An operation was performed for the largest cyst in the right frontal lobe. The cyst was pathologically confirmed as cysticercosis. He was treated with praziquantel 50 mg/kg body weight in 3 divided doses per day with steroid cover for 7 days. The same therapy was repeated at an interval of 14 days. The patient was suffering from headache and scintilating scotoma only for a few days during the therapy. MRI revealed reduction in the size of the cysts in the right occipital lobe but no change in the other cysts. He was given praziquantel 600 mg per day for two months. As a result, the cysts in the right occipital lobe disappeared and the other cysts diminished on MRI.