Cytologic diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. A case report

We present a case of cerebral neurocysticercosis evaluated cytologically utilizing the "squash smear" technique. The parasite was very necrotic, and the smears contained numerous calcareous corpuscles only. These corpuscles were initially interpreted as psammoma bodies, quite consistent with the clinical and radiologic impression that the patient had a meningioma. However, on close examination, the corpuscles were recognized immediately as coming from a parasite. The cytologic differences between psammoma bodies and calcareous corpuscles are discussed. We also review briefly the nature of cysticercosis and its cytologic diagnosis.